Organ Donation Awareness Series: Meet Team Richie

We sat down with transplant recipients and donors from Team Richie to learn about their experience awaiting, receiving, and donating organs for life-changing transplants.

Kai Ramos, Kidney Transplant Recipient

"When signing up for an organ transplant … it's totally reasonable to be skeptical about it, and scared, and anxious - all those emotions are ok. But in the long run, if it's a kidney transplant let's say, you can live with one kidney. We are living proof that you can live with one kidney for a very long time… you can still live a happy life."

Rick Daynes, Kidney Transplant Living Donor

"I think everyone should consider being an organ donor… Giving a kidney was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Not only was it an act of selflessness that I needed to do for me, but also I've got kids and the lesson that it taught them was completely invaluable. It's caused my family to come together into a more cohesive unit."

Lauren Mortenson, Kidney Transplant living Donor

"I actually feel much stronger physically and mentally [since I donated my left kidney]. There's that added bonus of knowing that I'm a part of this amazing community that is helping people live healthier lives. The obvious thing is my uncle is here - just having him be this healthy is truly the greatest gift. And the bonus is all the other people I've met because [I became a donor]."

Edith Navarro, Kidney Transplant Living Donor

"Don't you want to be a hero? To help give someone a second chance at life? [Organ donation] is a way that you can live on through someone else."

Sue Rudoloph, Liver Transplant Recipient

"I would tell someone who is hesitant to join the national organ donor registry that there are over 100,000 people that are waiting for a transplant right now, and a lot of them will die waiting. There's really a shortage of organ donation, and by donating your organs you can save multiple people's lives."