marionshuck

Let's Talk Hope podcast host Marion Shuck was recently interviewed about her work with the organization by Monica Fox, podcast host of The Journey Continues. Through her work at Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network, Marion helped countless families make the powerful decision to donate their loved ones’ tissue and organs. When her husband of 33 years, Reggie, suddenly passed away, she found herself making that same powerful decision. 

Diversity, equity, and inclusion is not new to the healthcare and social just systems.  Dr. Donyale Padgett speaks to Let’s Talk Hope about why disparities exist in multiethnic communities and why it's important to learn the community needs and norms and work to eliminate these disparities. 

One of the most challenging parts of the donation process is the wait for a transplant. Laura Barajas reflects on receiving her brother’s kidney, and what her current wait is like. Also: Former United Network for Organ Sharing public relations director Lisa Schaffner explains how the national waiting list operates.

Talking to kids about organ and tissue donation can be tough. When Marissa Marton’s son Andrew got his driver’s license at 16, he knew he wanted to be a donor. But he passed away before the family could talk about ​his decision. Marissa talks about the right age to have that conversation with your children. And we speak to Sara Miller, President and Founder of Student Organ Donation Advocates (SODA) and Samantha Newman, SODA Chapter Lead at the University of Illinois about the power that our youth can have on influencing the conversation about donation explain how they created the Student Organ Donation Advocates organization.