It was the Sunday after Thanksgiving when Kathryn Hart’s life took an unexpected turn. Prior to that day, Hart was the epitome of an active individual. She was a runner, a yoga enthusiast, a horseback rider and an artist who painted and sculpted large pieces. Her active lifestyle was threatened however, when on that Sunday in 2004 Hart fell two stories from a ladder, shattering her leg.

“It was completely and totally shattered. The doctor told me he stopped counting after two dozen pieces of bone,” said Hart.
As a market researcher, Hart had worked in the donation industry, even doing research for the tissue bank that provided her allograft bone.

“I knew that I would probably need donor bone, so I asked specifically about it,” said Hart. “In my fever and drug-induced state, I asked the doctor if he planned to use donor bone and if so, whose it was. He responded with, ‘Who are you?’”

Though the main injury was her shattered leg, Hart’s body responded to the inflammation caused by the fall with a fever of over 104 degrees.

“They kept me in the hospital for a week because my fever was so high,” said Hart. “I was packed in ice until my fever lowered, so they could go ahead with the surgery.”
Once her fever was down, Hart was in the operating room for five hours as doctors repaired her leg. All doctors could tell her was that she would walk again.
Running and yoga like she was accustomed however, was still in question.

“The recovery was horrible and very painful,” said Hart. “My leg swelled up to four times its size.”
To cope with being on crutches for five months, she continued to do yoga with one leg. When those five months came to an end, she finally started walking again.

“Ultimately, I healed very successfully,” said Hart. “The accident happened at the end of 2004, by May of 2005 I was walking and six months after that, I started jogging again.”
Though Hart was already a registered donor and familiar with the donation industry, she felt especially motived after her surgery.

“Even if I didn’t know the industry, I would be a huge advocate for donation based on the results of my surgery alone,” said Hart.
A year after she received donor bone, Hart was back to running, yoga, painting and sculpting.

“The decision these donor families make is a really, really big one,” said Hart. “Because of the person and family who donated this bone, I am allowed to live my life in the unique way that only I can. Each of us has a special gift to give, and I can give mine thanks to this donor.”

 “When I got word from my doctor that my senior year of lacrosse was over, I was devastated,” said Cameron McDonald.

During a game, Cameron injured his ankle.  Thinking it was a minor injury, he continued playing.  Despite initially thinking it was just a sprain, he woke up the next morning to an ankle swollen to the size of a basketball.   

“We went to the emergency room wondering if my ankle was broken or shattered,” said McDonald.  The news was grim. Cameron’s ankle was completely shattered.  In his mind, his lacrosse playing days were over. 

His doctor however, had a different idea. He knew about a procedure that been successfully performed on over 40 adults. 

“They said the procedure involved  using cartilage from a child donor and injecting into ankle,” said McDonald.  Though no one as young as Cameron had ever had the procedure, he and his doctors decided it was his best option.  The procedure was a success.

“I was out of the hospital in about four hours and I only had to stay on pain medicine for about three or four days,” said McDonald.

After just two weeks of recovery, Cameron was back working with his trainer on his upper body strength and flexibility while his ankle was recovering.  By the second month, he was in a walking boot going to all of his classes.

“This procedure clearly allowed me the opportunity to continue playing the sport I love, lacrosse,” said McDonald. “My doctor said that without this new technology I was unlikely to ever have the mobility necessary to play lacrosse at the college level.  If I had gotten pins and screws installed instead of this procedure I am sure I would not be on my school’s team today.”

When first told about the procedure, Cameron felt uneasy. He realized that while he was recovering, a family would be grieving.

“I understood that a family lost a very young child so I could get healthy again,” McDonald said. “But at the same time, they were brave enough to honor their family member by donating their organs and tissue.  The more I thought about the surgery and the gift I was getting, the more I realized the best way to honor my donor was to live my life to its fullest.”

Cameron not only tells his friends and family to become donors, he also thinks of his donor family while he plays the sport he so loves.

“There are many times when I am tired in practice or a game when I have a quick thought to dig a bit deeper as a small measure of thanks for all that I have been given,” McDonald said.  “I feel that I am tremendously fortunate to have been given such a gift.”

“Everything I’ve done since the transplant and all that’s to come are because of the tissue donor family. The allograft gave me a second chance to fulfill an unrealized destiny.” May Chen, fresh tissue recipient

“If I was able to speak to my donor, I would be humbled by their selfless contribution.” Barbara Richards, meniscus recipient

“We pray for that family and realize that while our life normalizes, there will always be an empty seat at their holiday tables. There are a lot of people in my life that are aware of that, and I am not hesitant to share the story.” Margie Mayfield, ACL recipient

“I believe the body is the human’s earthly vessel. Our deceased loved ones are hopefully in a wonderful place; their tissue is no longer needed by them. I honor whoever is selfless enough to understand that.” Connie Hilger, ACL recipient

“I’m thankful to be alive. I want to try new things. I see life in a whole new way.”Manuel Salazar, skin and bone recipient

“This may not be a surprise, but I am a full anatomical donor. If something were to happen to me, I plan to pass this gift on to others.” Kurt Person, ligament recipient

“Since the transplant I have been able to play and run around a little more. For this I am grateful to you and your loved one. My family and I will remember your act of kindness and generosity.” 12-year-old  Devin Katacinski, skin recipient

In the past, Allograft Possibilities has honored donors by telling their stories.  National Donor Day is a great time to look back, read and remember Nick, Cameron and Ryan who chose to show love through donation.  Thanks to that love, countless people can spend this Valentine’s Day with their loved ones, appreciating the gift of an enhanced or saved life.

While testing the brakes on an all-terrain vehicle as part of his occupation, Person crashed, severing the four main tendons and ligaments in his shoulder.

“I was told a break would have been easier to fix,” said Person. “After a month of immobilized healing, it became clear that a total reconstruction would be needed to restore the arm and shoulder function.”

What Person didn’t know was that somewhere, someone who had lost a loved one had donated tissue, making the reconstruction of his shoulder

“I was at home recovering when a postcard arrived in the mail,” said Person.  “Up to this point, the only information I had about the surgery was that it took twice as long as expected.”

The postcard he received told Person that someone donated the tissue that was used to repair his shoulder and “What a gift,” said Person. “I will remember this gift each time I throw a ball, ride a bike or just try to keep up with my active family.”

After less than six months, Person’s rebuilt shoulder is nearly 100 percent back to normal.

“My only limitation is that my fastball is not as fast as it used to be,” said Person.  He can, however, throw a ball with his sons again.

“This may not be a surprise, but I was a full anatomical donor,” said Person. “If something were to happen to me, I plan to pass this gift on to others.”

While awaiting a lung transplant, 20-year-old Helene Campbell decided to take action and increase donor awareness. Campbell and friends focused on a Twitter campaign with a specific goal in mind: getting Justin Bieber to take notice and spread the word to his 16-million followers.

Well they got Justin’s attention, and with his support via Twitter, a Canadian organ registry received more than 500 new registrants within just a few days. Check out the full story here.