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Birth tissue donation is also known as the gift of healing. Our hosts talk to Ashley Betz, Post Natal Recovery Technician, and Kathryn, a WNY mom that donated her birth tissue through ConnectLife’s Birth Tissue Donation program back in 2018 and will be donating again this year in 2021. We honor a local organ donor, Robert Ryan, in our hero story.

April is National Donate Life Month. So, for episode 23, we are celebrating with a game show! Our two contestants go head-to-head in our second edition of Let’s Get Quizzical: Donation Game Show. Grab a friend and play along. We honor a local eye and tissue donor, 11-year-old Kenzie, in our hero story.

On episode 22, we talk to two amazing friends and co-workers, Dotty and Danielle. They call themselves blood buddies! We hope their story inspires you to become a regular ConnectLife blood donor and find YOUR blood buddy. Our hero this episode is blood donor, Paul Indelicato. 

On episode 21, we talk to four special guests about kidney health, donation, and transplantation. The Krist family shares their inspiring living kidney donation story and Jeremy Morlock talks us through National Kidney Month. This episode's hero is Cheryl Yurek, who was both a living donor and donated after her passing in 2020. Links: Kidney Foundation https://www.kfwny.org/ Facebook.com/KFWNY Twitter.com/kidneyfoundwny Instagram.com/kidneyfoundwny   Team Buffalo https://www.kfwny.org/teambuffalo Facebook.com/TeamBuffaloTGA Twitter.com/TeamBuffaloTGA Instagram.com/TeamBuffaloTGA   Transplant Games of America https://www.transplantgamesofamerica.org/

February is American Heart Month, and, on February 14, we celebrate National Donor Day. On episode 20, we continue our theme from episode 19 and share another organ donation love story. Our hosts talk with Tim & Sherry Day. At the end of the episode, we honor Tim’s heart donor, William, in a special hero story.

On episode 19, our hosts talk to a Mark and Naomi Feltz, a married couple whose story spans 13 years and three transplants. It's a love story like no other. Every episode we honor a hero. This episode, we honor all three of Naomi's donors. Do you have a hero and want us to share their story? Click here: https://www.connectlife.org/ways-to-give/honor-a-hero/submission-form

On episode 18, we talk about an essential department at ConnectLife: the DRC or Donor Referral Center. Our hosts talk to two members of the DRC staff about their roles and the work the DRC does to continue ConnectLife's mission to educate the community, inspire donation, and save lives. Because January is National Blood Donor Month, we honor a local blood donor hero, Bill Przybysz.

January is National Blood Donor Month!  On episode 17, our hosts talk to four guests about our month-long blood donor promotion with Perry's Ice Cream. When you give a pint of blood, you get a pint of ice cream! This episode's hero story is special. You will hear from a member of the Perry’s team, who is also a donor dad and an amazing advocate of the ConnectLife mission.  Thank you for tuning in to our first episode of 2021. Don't forget to subscribe and follow Invisible Threads.

There is so much misinformation out there about organ donation. It is important that people say yes, but it’s more important that people know the facts. So that is exactly what we’re going to do on this episode. On episode 16, our hosts talk to Amanda Habermehl, Manager of Hospital Development at ConnectLife and walk through the deceased donation process. Because this is our last episode of 2020, we honor all of the local donation heroes from this year.

On episode 15, we talk about our annual Holiday Heroes campaign. Although this year, it looks a little different. Our hosts talk to guests Geoffrey Falkner, Vice President-Strategy & Marketing at YMCA Buffalo Niagara, Catherine Shick, Communications Director for FeedMore WNY, and Amanda Farrell, Director of BDS Recruitment at ConnectLife. We honor a local hero - a ConnectLife blood donor, Alex Jordan. Join our Holiday Heroes campaign and donate blood with ConnectLife this December!

If you’re like most Western New Yorkers, you’re always looking for ways to give back to your community. Our hosts break down 4 ways to give back through ConnectLife. Give Life Give Time Give Blood Give Support Every episode we honor a local hero, this episode's hero is organ, eye, and tissue donor, Tony Papp.

November is Eye Donation Month! Did you know that one cornea donor can give the gift of sight to two people? Our hosts talk to Dave Carlson, a two-time cornea recipient, and Mary Pfeiffer, Director of Eye and Tissue Services, about ConnectLife's work as an eye bank. We honor a local organ, eye, and tissue donor hero, Hannah Kinkaid.

On episode 12, our hosts talk with guests Wendy M. Guyker, Ph.D., Clinical Associate Professor at UB’s Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology and Lea Sobieraski, liver transplant recipient, about how to cope with feeling of grief, guilt, anxiety, and depression. If you or someone you love is struggling, please do not hesitate to reach out for help. Look for a counselor in your area or reach out to someone in your life that you trust. Also see below for resources suggested by both Lea and Wendy. Podcasts for morning meditation: The Morning Ritual Molly’s Mornings (guided meditations and inspirational messaging)  Mindful in Minutes  Meditation Minis (great for calming anxiety, helping you overcome negative thinking and increase your confidence)   Apps:  Insight Timer: An app for sleep, anxiety and stress. Motivation: You set how many positive motivations you want sent to your phone and during what times. You also get to choose what type of motivation you want. Free trial then a small fee* Action for Happiness: You receive simple, daily action ideas to help you boost your own well-being and spread more happiness to others.  Books & Tools: Yogis in Science a local non-profit that Wendy is involved with – she's provided a link to free weekly yoga classes (currently on Zoom). Mindfulness and Yoga for Self-regulation: A Primer for Mental Health a book written by Wendy's colleague, Dr. Catherine Cook-Cottone, on yoga and mindfulness for self-regulation. The Five-Minute Journal: The journal requires only five minutes of thought each morning and night. You begin each day with setting intentions and asking yourself what would make today great end then circle back at night to discuss the days positive moments and how you can improve for tomorrow. Mindful Self-Care: free survey that Wendy and her colleague developed with results and resources automatically e-mailed to you.

Did you know there are 113,000 people across the United States waiting for an organ transplant? 10% of those waiting are right here in New York State. On episode 11, our hosts talk with two guests - Aisha M. Tator, Executive Director at Donate Life New York State and Kevin Gramlich Senior Vice President of Organ, Eye & Tissue Services at ConnectLife. We discuss how we work together to honor the "yes" to organ donation in New York State. We honor the life and legacy of Randy Mott, father, husband, and organ donor.

On episode 10, you will hear the amazing story behind Team Fleetwood. Debbie, Emily, Mark, and Scott Fleetwood are our guests. We talk about the family’s journey through organ donation and transplantation, and how they are continuing that legacy of giving through blood donation.   Every episode we honor a hero, this episode we honor Scott’s anonymous organ donor.

On episode nine, we talk myths and misconceptions. If you heard it on a TV show or as an off-handed comment, it’s probably wrong. That’s why we are here to clear the air and tell you the truth about donation. Have you heard a myth you want us to discuss? Send it in to podcast@connectlife.org. Your myth might just get featured in our next episode. Every episode we honor a local hero. This episode, we honor tissue donors, John and Rita McGrath.

On episode eight, our hosts walk you through what it's like to donate blood at a ConnectLife blood drive. We recorded this episode at New Era Field at our annual Buffalo Bills blood drive. We talk to Sue Roney, a member of ConnectLife staff, four blood donors, and Ashley Meganck, Director of Corporate Sales at Pegula Sports & Entertainment. Every episode we honor a local hero, this episode's hero is blood donor, Kaitlyn Morris. Listen for our answer to our FIRST question submission from an Invisible Threads listener!

Episode seven of Invisible Threads is dedicated to our heroes. Get to know the 13 heroes featured in our Virtual Walk to ConnectLife's Virtual Memorial Garden. We share their stories, and you'll hear from their loved ones, in their own words. View the Virtual Memorial Garden here: ConnectLife.org/Walk

On episode six of Invisible Threads, our hosts speak with guests Kevin Gramlich, Senior Vice President of Organ, Eye & Tissue at ConnectLife and Wayne R. Waz, MD, Chief, Division of Nephrology and Medical Director, Kidney Center at Oishei Children’s Hospital. We talk about how world events of the past and the COVID-19 pandemic today have affected donation and transplantation locally in Western New York and across the country. Each episode we honor our heroes. This episode’s hero is organ donor, Marques Anthony Barker. 

On episode five of Invisible Threads, our hosts discuss community blood donation. We talk with guests, Rosanne Schaller, blood recipient mom and blood donor, Frauke Stoffel, blood drive sponsor, and Amanda Farrell, Director of Blood Recruitment Services at ConnectLife. We discuss the constant need for blood donors in our community and blood donation in the times of COVID-19 and social distancing. Each episode we honor our heroes, this episode’s hero is blood donor, Sue O’Hara.