Donate Life Run/Walk

Jelani was a shy, yet sarcastic teenager and spent his fourteenth birthday being hospitalized for uncontrolled hypertension. While his pediatrician tried his best not to frighten him, words like medication, stroke, heart attach, dialysis and transplant made Jelani realize that his childhood was over. At age eighteen and trying to decide which college to attend, he was informed that his kidneys were failing. Despite his best efforts and improving his health, he went into renal failure and spent 5 and a half years on dialysis. A gift of life from a deceased donor allowed Jelani to begin school again, marry, and raise five children with is wife while giving his father his son back. #Blackhistorymonth #OneLegacy #SayYesSaveLives

Diagnosed in 2004 with cardiomyopathy, Dr. Robert Hill managed his condition with medication, and continued his life as a single parent of three girls, while at the same time finishing his doctoral program. In February 2017, it all came to close to an end. After experiencing severe stomach pains, he decided to visit Cedars Sinai Medical Center, where he spent the next two and a half months waiting for a matching heart that would save his life. Finally, a perfect heart and kidney match was found, and he received a lifesaving transplant. Thanks to the gift he received from his donor, Richard; Robert has been able to continue his career in Education, and he can now hug his daughters and foster relationships with family and loved ones. Robert met Richard’s family in 2018 and they continue staying in touch. #Blackhistorymonth #OneLegacy #bhm

In 1999, Lavinia Vinnie Brooks was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. She continued with her life, pursuing a fashion designer career, and being active as a single mother to two boys. In 2004, the disease progressed to congestive heart failure and in 2010; she received a defibrillator pacemaker implant to keep her alive. In 2014, Vinnie’s condition became critical. She was hospitalized and placed on the transplant list. Vinnie waited in the ICU at Keck USC Hospital for 6 months and 23 days. Some days were good, some days were bad, and some days were terrifying. On January 12, 2015, Vinnie received a new heart. She is forever grateful to her donor, and she enjoys her career, spending time with her family, and inspiring others to donate life as a OneLegacy Ambassador. #blackhistorymonth #onelegacy

Before being part of the 2019 Rose Parade, when he sung the theme song Baba Yetu for the 2019 Donate Life Rose Parade float, Rhythm of the Heart Alex Boyé did not think much about registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor. After hearing all the amazing stories of transplant recipients, donor families and living donors who were part of the Donate Life float’s 2019 class, Alex decided to register as a donor, right before the New Year’s Rose Parade. You can also save lives by registering as a donor, like Alex did! Visit www.onelegacy.org for more information. #blackhistorymonth #OneLegacy #28daysofinspiration

During the month of February, OneLegacy will celebrate Black History Month by sharing the stories of African American donors, recipients and healthcare professionals. Today we are highlighting Dr. Velma Scantlebury. Dr. Scantlebury is the first African-American woman transplant surgeon of the United States. She has received many honors in her career, having been named to both the "Best Doctors in America" and "Top Doctors in America" lists multiple times. Scantlebury has been... awarded the Woman of Spirit Award for inspiring others and the "Gift of Life Award" from the National Kidney Foundation. In addition to recognition by the Caribbean American Medical and Scientific Association, she received the Order of Barbados Gold Crown of Merit, for her efforts to educate minorities about organ transplant. She has performed over 2,000 transplants and published many peer-reviewed papers. #28daysofinspiration #blackhistorymonth See more