Medical Conferences
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Pediatric Alliance
April 28 - 30, 2025
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SAWC- Spring
May 01 - 3, 2025
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American Cleft Palate Association (ACPA)
May 06 - 10, 2025
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SCALE Meeting
May 14 - 18, 2025
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Ohio Valley Society of Plastic Surgeons Meeting
May 15 - 17, 2025
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National Donate Life Month
Organ and Tissue Donors are Superstars
National Donate Life Month (NDLM) was established by Donate Life America and its partnering organizations in 2003. Celebrated in April each year, NDLM features an entire month of local, regional and national activities to help encourage Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to celebrate those that have saved lives through the gift of donation.
Did you know that April is one of the best times of the year to stargaze?
This April, we invite you to look up to the night sky and the billions of stars that make up the universe. Stars remind us that even in the darkest night, there is light.
Your decision to be an organ and tissue donor gives hope and light to the 100,000 people on the national transplant waiting list who are waiting for a second chance at life. That’s why donors are superstars.
"Not only do we live among the stars, the stars live within us." - Neil deGrasse Tyson
Donate Life Month Resources & Materials
National Donate Life Living Donor Day
Donate Life Living Donor Day is a celebration during National Donate Life Month that honors living organ and tissue donors for saving and healing lives! In 2022, more than 6,500 people made the decision to give one of their kidneys or a part of their liver to someone waiting for a second chance at life.
Others gave the healing gift of birth tissue. Birth tissue includes tissues such as placenta and amniotic membrane. Grafts derived from birth tissue promote natural wound healing.
To learn more about birth tissue, please visit our Birth Tissue page.
"The opportunity to donate made this already special day more meaningful"
Although scheduled for a C-Section, Samantha was excited about the upcoming birth of her daughter Sephora. When the hospital told her she had the opportunity to donate her placenta after delivery, she jumped on the opportunity. Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, Samantha worked as a nurse for 10 years in the ICU and saw firsthand the benefit of organ and tissue donation.
“I always loved hearing the amazing stories of how donation had changed the life of someone” said Samantha, “And I honestly never knew I could donate my placenta and help someone who was really suffering from wounds that wouldn’t heal or burns.”
“The placenta donation team explained everything, and it was so easy, I knew I wanted to make this a part of my birth experience. I love knowing that I have helped others and that’s what made me want to donate again, when my son was born.”
Samantha hopes others will want to participate in placenta donation and take part in contributing in such a beautiful way.
National Donate Blue and Green Day
The first National Donate Life Blue and Green Day was held in April 2012 in support of organ, eye and tissue donation and in celebration of National Donate Life Month. During this day, the public is encouraged to wear blue and green, share and celebrate on social media, hold events and fundraisers, and partner with local businesses and community organizations in an effort to bring attention to organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation and encourage the public to register as donors.
Blue and Green Contest
Join our Blue & Green Day Contest by sending in your best BUE AND GREEN photos to celebrate. Submit your photos through April 26th. Winners will be announced May 3rd.
National Pediatric Transplant Week - April 21 - 27th
The first National Pediatric Transplant Week took place in 2018. This week focuses on the powerful message of ending the pediatric transplant waiting list. Throughout the week, we will share stories of children whose lives are saved and healed through tissue donation.
Meet our incredible kids, tissue transplant superheroes wielding the power of resilience and determination! With each transplant, they don their capes of courage, facing challenges head-on with unwavering strength. Their journey is a testament to the extraordinary bravery that lies within each of them, inspiring us all to believe in the magic of possibility and the triumph of the human spirit
Kids Transplant Heroes!
Charlie Watts
Concerned for their son’s worsening toes, Charlie’s family rushed him to an orthopedic surgeon who assured them that their son would be fine with a corrective boot. Believing Charlie had healed, the family returned to their daily routines, unaware that their lives would soon change forever.
“Charlie was running at soccer practice when I noticed that he was holding his arm a lot,” Jessica recalled. “He told me his arm would sometimes hurt. I knew something was wrong”. Again, Charlie was taken to a doctor to x-ray his worsening arm. After many stressful screenings and transfers, doctors at St. Jude confirmed the family’s worst fear: Charlie had Ewing’s sarcoma, an aggressive bone cancer. “It was especially traumatic for us because it was our second run-in with cancer,” Jessica explained. “Charlie had an aunt who passed away when we were young. The idea of having to go through that again was terrifying.”
With a 70% chance of survival, doctors informed the family that Charlie would require chemo and surgery using a donated bone graft to replace parts of the cancerous arm. Though nervous about the donation, the family agreed, knowing it was the best option. “We had to trust at that point,” Jessica shared.
Now, post-surgery, Charlie enjoys life cancer-free with two healthy arms! Thanks to the gift from his donor, he maintains his fighter spirit as a member of his school’s Varsity soccer team and continues to dream of becoming a pilot. When contemplating their donor family’s sacrifice, Charlie and his family are forever grateful for the immeasurable gift of a second chance. Using the trending hashtag, “#FightCharlieFight,” they aspire to bring awareness to children’s cancer and the importance of tissue and organ donation for individuals everywhere.
“I can’t thank our donor family enough for what they’ve done,” Jessica stated. “Their sacrifice gave my son a fighting chance. We’re so very grateful.”
Video Stories
Watch these inspiring and motivational stories!
AG Bartel's Story
Chase's Story
Matt's Donor Story
Naomi's Story
For video file requests, please contact Lauralee_Brown@mtf.org.
National Donor Remembrance Day – April 30th
April 30 is National Donor Remembrance Day, a day to come together to honor and celebrate our Donor Superheroes who have given the gift of life through organ, tissue, and eye donation. Join us in planting a forget-me-not flower to symbolize that these heroes and their gifts will always be remembered. Please contact Christine_Jenkins@mtf.org to request a forget me not flower to plant in remembrance of your cherished donor.
Remembering Our Donor Heroes
The miracle of transplantation begins with a gift - the gift of organ, tissue, and eye donation. Our Tribute Wall honors the donor heroes who make transplantation possible. Donor families and supporters can honor a donor by sharing an online tribute of their loved one.
Tribute Wall
Each hero's story is unique. Just like the forget-me-not flowers, their memories will be planted in our hearts forever. We remember them. Learn more about remembering our donor heroes.
Charlie Watts
Concerned for their son’s worsening toes, Charlie’s family rushed him to an orthopedic surgeon who assured them that their son would be fine with a corrective boot. Believing Charlie had healed, the family returned to their daily routines, unaware that their lives would soon change forever.
“Charlie was running at soccer practice when I noticed that he was holding his arm a lot,” Jessica recalled. “He told me his arm would sometimes hurt. I knew something was wrong”. Again, Charlie was taken to a doctor to x-ray his worsening arm. After many stressful screenings and transfers, doctors at St. Jude confirmed the family’s worst fear: Charlie had Ewing’s sarcoma, an aggressive bone cancer. “It was especially traumatic for us because it was our second run-in with cancer,” Jessica explained. “Charlie had an aunt who passed away when we were young. The idea of having to go through that again was terrifying.”
With a 70% chance of survival, doctors informed the family that Charlie would require chemo and surgery using a donated bone graft to replace parts of the cancerous arm. Though nervous about the donation, the family agreed, knowing it was the best option. “We had to trust at that point,” Jessica shared.
Now, post-surgery, Charlie enjoys life cancer-free with two healthy arms! Thanks to the gift from his donor, he maintains his fighter spirit as a member of his school’s Varsity soccer team and continues to dream of becoming a pilot. When contemplating their donor family’s sacrifice, Charlie and his family are forever grateful for the immeasurable gift of a second chance. Using the trending hashtag, “#FightCharlieFight,” they aspire to bring awareness to children’s cancer and the importance of tissue and organ donation for individuals everywhere.
“I can’t thank our donor family enough for what they’ve done,” Jessica stated. “Their sacrifice gave my son a fighting chance. We’re so very grateful.”
Tribute Submissions
Charlie Watts
Concerned for their son’s worsening toes, Charlie’s family rushed him to an orthopedic surgeon who assured them that their son would be fine with a corrective boot. Believing Charlie had healed, the family returned to their daily routines, unaware that their lives would soon change forever.
“Charlie was running at soccer practice when I noticed that he was holding his arm a lot,” Jessica recalled. “He told me his arm would sometimes hurt. I knew something was wrong”. Again, Charlie was taken to a doctor to x-ray his worsening arm. After many stressful screenings and transfers, doctors at St. Jude confirmed the family’s worst fear: Charlie had Ewing’s sarcoma, an aggressive bone cancer. “It was especially traumatic for us because it was our second run-in with cancer,” Jessica explained. “Charlie had an aunt who passed away when we were young. The idea of having to go through that again was terrifying.”
With a 70% chance of survival, doctors informed the family that Charlie would require chemo and surgery using a donated bone graft to replace parts of the cancerous arm. Though nervous about the donation, the family agreed, knowing it was the best option. “We had to trust at that point,” Jessica shared.
Now, post-surgery, Charlie enjoys life cancer-free with two healthy arms! Thanks to the gift from his donor, he maintains his fighter spirit as a member of his school’s Varsity soccer team and continues to dream of becoming a pilot. When contemplating their donor family’s sacrifice, Charlie and his family are forever grateful for the immeasurable gift of a second chance. Using the trending hashtag, “#FightCharlieFight,” they aspire to bring awareness to children’s cancer and the importance of tissue and organ donation for individuals everywhere.
“I can’t thank our donor family enough for what they’ve done,” Jessica stated. “Their sacrifice gave my son a fighting chance. We’re so very grateful.”
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MTF Biologics is a registered trademark of the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation.
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