From 12,000 to 27,500+: How Transplant Talks is Changing the Conversation on Organ Donation

Sometimes the most life-changing decisions come with a quiet sense of certainty. 

After learning about the urgent need for pediatric liver transplants at Children's Hospital Colorado, Maureen Carrig made a decision within just days: she would become a living liver donor. In this episode, Maureen reflects on that choice, the nerves of telling others, and the inner confidence that carried her forward. 

She ultimately donated to an adult recipient and became one of the first donors at her center to undergo robotic right-lobe liver donation. Comparing recoveries with co-host Rachel Davis, they discuss surgical differences, overwhelming fatigue, and the emotional impact of donation. Both agree they'd do it again. As Maureen says, "I didn't realize how much it would benefit me as well." 

A routine helicopter flight. A devastating crash. Burns over 90% of his body. 

Flight nurse Dave wasn't expected to survive. But after 397 days in the hospital, months in a coma, kidney failure, and countless surgeries, Dave defied every medical expectation. With his wife Amanda by his side every single day, Dave chose to fight forward. 

When his kidneys failed, an acquaintance stepped up as a living donor, giving him another chance at life. Today, Dave and Amanda are passionate advocates for burn survivors, living donation, and helicopter safety—turning unimaginable tragedy into purpose and hope. 

Sometimes perseverance means picking yourself up after one setback. For Kelsey, it meant doing it three times. 

At just 17, routine lab work revealed kidney failure. Her diagnosis of medullary cystic kidney disease forced her to delay college and begin hemodialysis immediately. Her father Steve became her first kidney donor without hesitation. But when her body rejected his kidney, the devastation could have crushed them both. 

Instead, Steve channeled his heartbreak into fierce determination to find another match. What followed was a testament to the resilience of the human spirit: Kelsey's immune system rejected two more kidneys from living donors. Each rejection could have been the end of hope. But Kelsey kept pushing forward. 

Then something remarkable happened: a stranger, moved by a billboard sharing Kelsey's need, came forward to donate. That kidney has now sustained her for nine years. 

Today, Kelsey works as a social worker in a dialysis center, supporting others through the same challenges she once faced. "I just had to keep pushing forward," she says—a mindset that continues to guide not just her life, but the lives of the patients she serves. 

How does alcohol really lead to liver damage? Is binge drinking as bad as drinking every day? What are the early warning signs of liver disease? 

Dr. James Burton from CU Anschutz tackled the questions so many people are afraid to ask. His expertise and approachable style made complex medical information accessible to everyone—whether you're concerned about your own health, supporting a loved one, or simply curious about how this vital organ works. 

Kerre has been accused of having "toxic positivity"—but her optimism became her lifeline. 

The day after her 50th birthday—the same day she was convinced she would die—Kerre received the gift of life: a liver transplant. Her diagnosis had been elusive, making her journey even more frightening. But through it all, Kerre maintained her characteristic optimism. 

Today, she uses her experience to support and inspire others facing similar challenges. She's become a passionate advocate for organ donation, proving that sometimes a positive attitude really can be a superpower. 

Some of our most important conversations are also the most difficult. 

Dr. Sixto Giusti, Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the Hispanic Transplant Clinic at CU Anschutz, joined us to discuss transplantation in the context of migration—with a particular focus on undocumented immigrants in the United States. 

This episode tackles the ethical, medical, and practical questions surrounding access to transplantation for all patients, regardless of immigration status. It's a controversial topic, but one that's crucial to address if we're serious about equity in healthcare. 

In one of our most deeply personal episodes, Dr. Jeff Druck, an emergency medicine physician and Vice Chair for Faculty Advancement, Transformation, and Wellbeing at the University of Utah, opened up about a topic that too often stays hidden: mental health challenges among healthcare professionals. 

Dr. Druck and co-host Anastasia Henry explored the complex intersection of burnout and mental illness, and the very real fears clinicians face about potential repercussions on their medical licenses when they disclose a diagnosis. Anastasia also shared insights into burnout among nonprofit professionals, highlighting the emotional toll of mission-driven work. 

Perhaps most telling, after reaching out to over 100 transplant professionals, not one felt safe enough to publicly share their own struggles with depression or other mental illness. This episode was a brave step toward changing that culture of silence.