Source: CBS 11 TV, Dallas
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ― Tina Gentile Milstead and Jessica Coffy have a special bond.
In January, Tina's husband Leon died from a stroke; she knew her husband wanted to donate his organs. "Leon was a very giving person in life and it's a very fitting end to his life that he would touch so many lives with his donation," Tina said.
Coffy, who suffered kidney failure at only 25-years-old, received one of Leon's kidneys. "I just can't explain how grateful I am to the Milstead family. I feel like I have my life back now," she said.
Soon after the transplant, Milstead reached out to Coffy. It's helped her cope with her loss. "The one miracle I prayed for was turned into a hundred miracles. People's lives were touched by his life," Milstead said. Leon also donated his corneas to two different men and his skin and tissue.
On Sunday, dozens of organ donors and their families were honored with the unveiling of a Donor Wall at Baylor Medical Center at Dallas. "This will be an opportunity for us to only honor people but to help people realize what this gift could mean for others," said John McWhorter, President of Baylor Medical Center at Dallas. Right now, more than 2,000 people in North Texas are waiting for an organ. Jeanie Wood knows what that's like; she recently received a liver transplant after years on the list.
"I am blessed," she said at the Annual Transplant Patient Reunion at Baylor. Hundreds gathered to celebrate their second chances and thank the donors who gave it to them. "[I'm] taking life one day at a time and really appreciate each day," Wood said.
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In January, Tina's husband Leon died from a stroke; she knew her husband wanted to donate his organs. "Leon was a very giving person in life and it's a very fitting end to his life that he would touch so many lives with his donation," Tina said.
Coffy, who suffered kidney failure at only 25-years-old, received one of Leon's kidneys. "I just can't explain how grateful I am to the Milstead family. I feel like I have my life back now," she said.
Soon after the transplant, Milstead reached out to Coffy. It's helped her cope with her loss. "The one miracle I prayed for was turned into a hundred miracles. People's lives were touched by his life," Milstead said. Leon also donated his corneas to two different men and his skin and tissue.
On Sunday, dozens of organ donors and their families were honored with the unveiling of a Donor Wall at Baylor Medical Center at Dallas. "This will be an opportunity for us to only honor people but to help people realize what this gift could mean for others," said John McWhorter, President of Baylor Medical Center at Dallas. Right now, more than 2,000 people in North Texas are waiting for an organ. Jeanie Wood knows what that's like; she recently received a liver transplant after years on the list.
"I am blessed," she said at the Annual Transplant Patient Reunion at Baylor. Hundreds gathered to celebrate their second chances and thank the donors who gave it to them. "[I'm] taking life one day at a time and really appreciate each day," Wood said.
Remember to register as an organ donor by visiting Donate LIfe Texas.
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