As a liver transplant recipient, I think it is safe to say that all, or most, of my fellow organ recipients have a desire to pay forward for the incredible gift of life they have received as a result of the compassion of an organ donor. In my case, I have been inspired by the decision of a family of complete strangers to donate the organs of their loved one. A decision that saved my life and the life of several others. My transplant experience has raised my consciousness level concerning the number of people who are desperately waiting for life saving organ transplants, and I realized that I could do something to help educate our communities about organ donation and transplantation, and increase organ donation. In the more than seven years since my transplant I have met hundreds of organ recipients who advocate for organ donation in a multitude of ways, including run walks, state and world transplant games, sharing of stories with media, and more, all based on a desire to pay forward out of gratitude for a second chance at life made possible by the grace of God and the compassion of organ donors and organ donor families.
Leslie Franklin