Podcast
The Gifted Life: Organ, Tissue and Eye Donation Podcast
Hosted by The Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency · EN
Improve your knowledge about organ, tissue and eye donation as your hosts Lori Steele, Nila Schwab, and Joey Boudreaux have entertaining and informative conversations about donation. We address donation in the news, myths about donation, what's new in the community, new technologies, special guest interviews and much more.
11episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
From Prayer to Lasting Legacy: Erin Mitchell Crawford and Honoring Hayes
3w ago00:34:35Tap to summarizeShow Notes: Author Erin Mitchell Crawford shares her journey through loss following the death of her nine-year-old son, Hayes. Erin discusses her book, Held: 30 Days of Prayer Through Grief, which originated from her own raw prayers and reflections during her darkest moments. The conversation explores how faith provides a foundation when navigating heartbreak and emphasizes that grief, while personal, does not have to be solitary. In our Mental Health Moment, our hosts share how they personally interrupt a feeling of being stuck to break through moments of mental paralysis and return with a refreshed perspective. And then, honor Hayes Crawford as our Donor Hero, celebrating his life and legacy.
Transcribe →The Tin Woman - A Journey of Second Chances and Connection
May 100:29:06Tap to summarizeShow Notes: Join us as actor Larry Hyatt discusses The Tin Woman, a play based on a true story about Joy, a heart transplant recipient struggling with her second chance who seeks closure from her donor's grieving parents. The play powerfully explores themes of grief, acceptance, second chances, and connection, highlighting organ donation and recovery. Our Mental Health Moment asks "Who Are You?" to explore ways to hone in on this question, developing your own honest answer. Then, we honor donor hero Carl Bourque.
Transcribe →Small Heroes, Mighty Legacies
Apr 300:34:50Tap to summarizeShow Notes: In this episode, we have an inspiring conversation with Christian Bergeron about his daughter and donor hero, Elleanor "Ella" Claire Bergeron. Christian and his family created the Elleanor Claire Memorial Foundation. Discover how the Foundation aims to comfort donor families through dedicated memorial sites within all 64 of Louisiana's parishes. The sites honor Ella and all children who have given the gift of life through donation, inspiring others to continue offering hope with those gifts. Then in our Mental Health Moment, we examine questions to ask ourselves to focus on prioritizing and sharpening our own self-care tactics, and then we honor donor hero, Rylee Skye.
Transcribe →50 Peaks, One Kidney: Dr. Matthew Harmody’s "Ascending America"
Mar 600:49:55Tap to summarizeShow Notes: We sit down with retired physician, Dr. Matthew Harmody, whose life took on new purpose after becoming a living kidney donor in 2017. What began as a personal decision to give the gift of life has grown into a powerful mission of advocacy, and his advocacy has reached new heights, literally. Dr. Harmody, alongside four fellow living donors, set out to climb the highest peak in every U.S. state in just 41 days. Dr. Harmody is proving that organ donation is the beginning of a bold new chapter. His book, Ascending America chronicles breathtaking summits, and the science behind why living donors often thrive after donation. In our Mental Health Moment, we discuss how to prioritize rest and hone in on the type of rest that is restorative, and then, honor hero Dexter Landry.
Transcribe →Two Lives, One Kidney: A Living Kidney Donor and Her Recipient
Feb 600:36:05Tap to summarizeShow Notes: In this episode, we celebrate generosity and the impact of stepping forward to give the gift of life to a stranger. Andrea Childers, a living kidney donor, and Jennifer Davis, her transplant recipient, join us to reflect on the journey that saved Jennifer's life. Andrea's confidence in giving the gift of life set in motion a life-changing path for both of them. Together, they open up about the emotions and hope that has carried them through. In our Mental Health Moment, we focus to discuss tips for reducing distractions and honing in on what you want, and then, honor donor hero Gary Champagne.
Transcribe →Donation Advocate Shares his Story
Jan 200:31:39Tap to summarizeShow Notes: On this episode of The Gifted Life Podcast, we share a 30-year journey rooted in service as we highlight the extraordinary impact of longtime donation advocate and LOPA Board Member David Puckett. David reflects on his family’s transplant journey with his daughter, Lauren, a journey that led him to become her living kidney donor for her first lifesaving transplant. That selfless gift, followed by a second kidney transplant, made countless milestones possible including the unforgettable moment David walked Lauren down the aisle. Beyond his role as a devoted father and living donor, David has given years of dedicated service to LOPA’s Board of Directors, helping guide the organization’s mission and champion donor families, recipients, and the lifesaving power of donation. His leadership, compassion and advocacy have left a lasting mark on LOPA and is a celebration of the moments made possible through the gift of life. In our Mental Health Moment, we discuss tips for examining what is important to you and how to fill your life with moments that matter, and then, we honor donor hero, Walker Johnson.
Transcribe →Clayton Sparks' Legacy
Dec 500:32:32Tap to summarizeShow Notes: We welcome Beth Sparks, mother of donor hero Clayton Sparks, to share more about her son whose legacy continues to touch so many lives. Clayton, became an organ donor at the age of 24, and was the inspiration for the children’s book Clayton Sparks Leaves His Mark, written by Abby Gray, the wife of Clayton’s liver recipient. Beth reflects on Clayton’s vibrant personality, his compassion, and the impact he made in his short life. Hear how telling his story continues to bring comfort and inspires others to consider organ donation. In our Mental Health Moment, we offer practical tips for processing memories in a positive, productive manner, and then, honor hero Justin Bonvillian.
Transcribe →Clayton Sparks Leaves His Mark
Nov 700:42:42Tap to summarizeShow Notes: On this episode of The Gifted Life Podcast, we welcome Abby Gray, author of Clayton Sparks Leaves His Mark and Impatiently Waiting for Miracles. In January 2017, Abby began writing as a therapeutic outlet while she and her husband, Reid, faced serious health challenges. Four years later, their lives changed forever when Reid received a liver transplant through a directed donation from organ donor Clayton Sparks. Abby shares how her family and the Sparks family have become forever connected through the powerful ripple effect of organ donation. In our Mental Health Moment, we talk about ways grief can manifest in our lives, and discuss tips to cope with that loss in a positive manner. Then, we honor donor hero, Skylar Guidry.
Transcribe →Jeri Gill | Ms. Senior World Louisiana and Living Kidney Donor
Oct 300:29:17Tap to summarizeShow Notes: On this episode we shine a spotlight on an incredible woman whose story combines generosity and advocacy with a touch of pageant sparkle. Jeri Gill, an altruistic living kidney donor, was recently crowned 2025 Ms. Senior World Louisiana in the 60’s age category. Jeri's platform is organ donation, and she uses her voice to champion the gift of donation. Don’t miss Jeri’s inspiring journey, her passion for donation, and how she continues to turn her personal gift into a movement of hope. Then in our Mental Health Moment, we chat about the various roles in our everyday lives, and offer practical tips for navigating those different roles with ease, then we pause to honor donor hero, Lainey Glaze.
Transcribe →Miss Louisiana's Teen Virginia Kirkpatrick
Sep 500:26:34Tap to summarizeShow Notes: On this episode of The Gifted Life Podcast we welcome Miss Louisiana’s Teen 2025, Virginia Kirkpatrick. 17 year old Virginia is an impressive leader on every level, but what really stood out is her Community Service Initiative to educate and encourage registration as an organ and tissue donor, “Life After Mine: Your Choice, Their Chance. Virginia shares her journey to the crown and why donation advocacy is so close to her heart. In our Mental Health Moment, we first ask the simple question “How are you?" We discuss ways to pause and really examine our feelings and tactics for embracing those feelings. Then, we honor donor hero Bret Flowers.
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