This week, we welcome Sean Pinegar, another heart transplant survivor whose story is deeply intertwined with the genetic condition LMNA-related cardiomyopathy.

Sean takes us on a heartfelt journey—from the earliest signs that something wasn’t right, through the challenges and uncertainty, and finally to the life-changing gift of a new heart. His path is one of courage, resilience, and hope.

But Sean’s story holds a unique surprise: what became of his old heart. In a way that continues to touch lives, his former heart is now contributing to research and may one day help others facing the same struggles.

This episode is a reminder of the ripple effect of organ donation. Each gift not only saves a life but can also bring knowledge, comfort, and healing to countless others. Sean’s journey highlights the strength of the human spirit and the incredible generosity of donors and their families.

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Together, we’re raising awareness, honoring donors, and celebrating new beginnings.

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In this week’s episode of Gift of Life – The Organ Transplant Podcast, host BJ Odom takes on a topic that every transplant recipient knows about, but many fear: rejection.

Our scheduled guest, Randy, had to postpone his appearance due to experiencing a bout of rejection with his liver transplant. In his absence, BJ turns the microphone toward an open and honest conversation about what rejection really means, how doctors treat it, and why it doesn’t always spell the end of a transplant journey.

• What rejection is and why it happens – the immune system’s role in protecting us, and how it sometimes mistakenly attacks a transplanted organ.

• How doctors prevent and treat rejection – from daily immunosuppressant medications to regular bloodwork, biopsies, and adjustments in care.

• The balancing act of transplant medicine – keeping the immune system calm enough to protect the new organ, but strong enough to fight infections.

• The hopeful side of rejection – why early detection and treatment often mean rejection can be reversed.

BJ also shares his own powerful experience with antibody-mediated rejection, a specific kind of rejection caused by donor-specific antibodies (DSA). He explains what it’s like when the body creates antibodies that attack the transplanted organ, and how treatments like plasmapheresis, IV infusions, and targeted therapies can help patients overcome it.

His message is clear:

You’re not alone.

Treatments exist.

With the right care team and follow-ups, transplant recipients can face rejection and still thrive with the gift of life.

Rejection is not the end—it’s a reminder of how important it is to listen to your body, stay consistent with medications, and never miss follow-up care. With vigilance, hope, and medical advances, transplant patients can continue living the second chance they’ve been given.

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Welcome to Gift of Life – The Organ Transplant Podcast. I’m your host, BJ Odom.

Today’s episode is a powerful reminder we all need: if something doesn’t feel right, don’t ignore it. Our guest, John Perkins, learned this lesson in the hardest way. What began as a nagging sense that something was wrong eventually led him down the road of needing not one, but two life-saving transplants—a liver and a kidney.

John’s journey was long and painful, filled with challenges not only for him but for his entire family. At one point, it would’ve been easy to give up. But thanks to the encouragement of a hospital employee, John found the strength to keep fighting for his life.

In this conversation, John shares his story of resilience, hope, and the importance of paying attention to your body—and why seeking medical help early can make all the difference. This is an episode you won’t want to miss.

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Together, we’re raising awareness, honoring donors, and celebrating new beginnings. Thank you for being part of our life-giving community.

Sometimes the most precious gifts we pass down to our children are love, values, and memories. But for families like Jennifer’s, there is also a shared genetic legacy—one that brings with it enormous health challenges.

You may remember Dr. Robert Pritt from Episode 38, whose life was saved by a heart transplant. Robert and his daughter Jennifer share not only a deep bond as father and daughter, but also the same LMNA-related cardiomyopathy gene. This condition can lead to life-threatening heart problems and is now known to be carried by Jennifer’s brother and daughter as well.

In today’s episode, Jennifer bravely shares her own life-saving transplant journey—a story filled with resilience, gratitude, and hope. Thanks to the generosity of an organ donor, she can continue to cherish her husband, her four children, and the joy of a brand-new grandbaby.

We’ll also touch on promising research that gives hope for a future where this gene can be stopped from causing harm to others.

This is more than a story about survival—it’s about the strength of family, the power of science, and the incredible impact of organ donation.

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Let’s Stay Connected:

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Together, we’re raising awareness, honoring donors, and celebrating new beginnings. Thank you for being part of our life-giving community.

Sometimes, life brings people into your path for a reason. On a recent visit to Tampa General Hospital, I found myself needing a ride — and that’s when I met Tammy Zettles. As I climbed into her car, I noticed a Donate Life sticker on her window. That simple sticker led to a powerful conversation that I’ll never forget.

Tammy is a donor mom. Her son, DJ, passed away at the young age of 21 — a tragic and heartbreaking loss. But in the midst of that unimaginable grief, DJ gave the ultimate gift. He was an organ donor who saved and enhanced many lives.

In this special episode, Tammy joins us to honor DJ’s life and legacy. With grace, strength, and love, she shares his story — not just the story of how he died, but the story of how he lived. She reminds us that behind every donation is a family, a heartbeat, and a love that continues to ripple through the world.

I’m proud to now call Tammy a friend, and even prouder to welcome her to the Gift of Life family. DJ’s light continues to shine through her words and her advocacy.

You don’t want to miss this touching conversation about love, loss, and the legacy of giving.

Let’s Stay Connected

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Say “yes” to donation – be someone’s gift of life

This week’s episode is truly a family story like no other. We’re joined by mother-daughter duo Carman Negron and Carmen Tipton, both working with LifeLink of Florida to help make the gift of life possible for others. Alongside them is sister Aliris Rosas, a pancreas transplant recipient whose own journey brings the conversation even closer to home. And in the background, the family’s strength and hope continue as their father awaits a kidney transplant.

I’ll admit — with all these incredible connections, I got a little lost in the family tree at first! But as the stories unfolded, it all came together into one powerful reminder: organ, eye, and tissue donation touches entire families, not just individuals.

We also continue to honor National Multiethnic Donor Awareness Month, celebrated each August. This important initiative, led by the National Multicultural Action Group, works to inspire a positive culture of donation—especially in diverse communities that have historically been underrepresented in both donation and transplantation.

Whether you’re a donor, a recipient, a healthcare professional, or simply someone with a heart for others, this episode is filled with inspiration, connection, and hope.

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Let’s Stay Connected:

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In this deeply moving episode of Gift of Life – The Organ Transplant Podcast, we welcome Dr. Angelie Roman—a compassionate physician, an immigrant from the Philippines, and now a grateful kidney transplant recipient.

Angelie came to the United States at a young age, driven by a dream to help others. She pursued that dream and became an oncology physician, dedicating her life to healing patients facing some of their toughest battles. But in her 20s, Angelie faced her own unexpected diagnosis—a hereditary condition discovered during a urinary infection that doctors told her would eventually require a kidney transplant.

Fast forward more than 25 years, and Angelie’s journey came full circle when she received the gift of life—a kidney that transformed her future.

Her story is not only one of medical triumph but also a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the incredible generosity of organ donors.

We also continue to honor National Multiethnic Donor Awareness Month, celebrated each August. This vital initiative, led by the National Multicultural Action Group, works to promote a positive culture around organ, eye, and tissue donation—particularly in diverse communities that have historically been underrepresented in donation and transplantation.

Whether you’re a donor, a recipient, a healthcare professional, or simply someone with a heart for others—this episode will leave you inspired and informed.

Let’s Stay Connected

Email: giftoflifepodcast@gmail.com

Website: www.giftoflifepodcast.com

Facebook: Gift of Life – The Organ Transplant Podcast

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Together, we’re raising awareness, honoring donors, and celebrating new beginnings.

Thank you for being part of our life-giving community.

In Episode 67 of Gift of Life – The Organ Transplant Podcast, we meet Yesenia Zaragoza — a proud Hispanic woman, a compassionate nurse, and a living kidney donor whose journey is as inspiring as it is impactful.

Yesenia’s story began while working with liver transplant recipients at Tampa General Hospital. Now part of the LifeLink of Florida team, her commitment to saving lives didn’t stop at the hospital doors. One day, while sitting in on a surgery, she overheard a conversation about living kidney donation — including how donors receive top priority if they ever need a kidney themselves. That moment led her to take action.

Motivated by the facts, her compassion, and her culture, Yesenia became a living kidney donor. In this episode, she shares her unique path to donation and how her heritage and profession both play a vital role in her advocacy — especially during National Multiethnic Donor Awareness Month.

Episode 67 is packed with insight, empathy, and a heartfelt call to action for communities of all backgrounds to say “yes” to donation.

Email: giftoflifepodcast@gmail.com

Website: www.giftoflifepodcast.com

Facebook: Gift of Life – The Organ Transplant Podcast

Listen & Share: https://lnk.to/GiftofLife

If this episode touched your heart, help us spread the message:

Subscribe and leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform

Share Episode 67 with your family and friends

Together, we’re raising awareness, honoring donors, and celebrating new beginnings. Thank you for being part of our life-giving community.