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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Courage. Gratitude. Hope.
These are just a few of the words that tissue recipients share with us on a regular basis. Although every story is unique, each provides a glimpse into the tremendous impact that the life-saving gift of tissue donation has on the healing journey.
Featured Stories
Joceline Perez
Title :
Fly Like a Butterfly
isDonor :
No
isRecipient :
Yes
Sort order :
For aspiring nurse Joceline Perez Hernandez, helping others has always been a priority. In her spare time, Joceline loves a good run—a sensation she compares to flying. Overtime, she noticed a small stinging in her left knee, but did not think much of it. However, things changed one Thanksgiving when Joceline and her family decided to go for a hike, resulting in a bad slip that placed immeasurable pain on Joceline’s leg. She was immediately rushed to the ER.
After an examination, doctors confirmed that Joceline’s ongoing pain was caused by a benign tumor, located right below her left knee. “My whole world felt as if it were crashing down,” Joceline remembered. Months later, she was taken to the hospital to remove the tumor and strengthen her leg, but the damage was considerable. “The tumor was eating at my bone,” she added. “My condyle was worn out, almost completely gone.” It was then that doctors decided that Joceline would need surgery using an osteochondral tissue graft, utilizing donated cartilage and bone tissue. These donations would help save Joceline’s leg.
Today, Joceline is beyond grateful for her second chance at life. Thanks to the gift of her donor, Joceline can enjoy time with her younger siblings, volunteer in church, and continue her work as a certified nurse’s assistant. She is even considering becoming a donor herself. “No words can explain how grateful I am, and how much I appreciate all your loved one has done for me in my life,” Joceline writes to her donor family. “I am still recovering, but I feel like a caterpillar. I am learning to walk again, and one day thanks to your loved one … I will be able to spread my wings and fly, just like a butterfly.”
After an examination, doctors confirmed that Joceline’s ongoing pain was caused by a benign tumor, located right below her left knee. “My whole world felt as if it were crashing down,” Joceline remembered. Months later, she was taken to the hospital to remove the tumor and strengthen her leg, but the damage was considerable. “The tumor was eating at my bone,” she added. “My condyle was worn out, almost completely gone.” It was then that doctors decided that Joceline would need surgery using an osteochondral tissue graft, utilizing donated cartilage and bone tissue. These donations would help save Joceline’s leg.
Today, Joceline is beyond grateful for her second chance at life. Thanks to the gift of her donor, Joceline can enjoy time with her younger siblings, volunteer in church, and continue her work as a certified nurse’s assistant. She is even considering becoming a donor herself. “No words can explain how grateful I am, and how much I appreciate all your loved one has done for me in my life,” Joceline writes to her donor family. “I am still recovering, but I feel like a caterpillar. I am learning to walk again, and one day thanks to your loved one … I will be able to spread my wings and fly, just like a butterfly.”
Joceline Perez
Title :
Fly Like a Butterfly
isDonor :
No
isRecipient :
Yes
Sort order :
For aspiring nurse Joceline Perez Hernandez, helping others has always been a priority. In her spare time, Joceline loves a good run—a sensation she compares to flying. Overtime, she noticed a small stinging in her left knee, but did not think much of it. However, things changed one Thanksgiving when Joceline and her family decided to go for a hike, resulting in a bad slip that placed immeasurable pain on Joceline’s leg. She was immediately rushed to the ER.
After an examination, doctors confirmed that Joceline’s ongoing pain was caused by a benign tumor, located right below her left knee. “My whole world felt as if it were crashing down,” Joceline remembered. Months later, she was taken to the hospital to remove the tumor and strengthen her leg, but the damage was considerable. “The tumor was eating at my bone,” she added. “My condyle was worn out, almost completely gone.” It was then that doctors decided that Joceline would need surgery using an osteochondral tissue graft, utilizing donated cartilage and bone tissue. These donations would help save Joceline’s leg.
Today, Joceline is beyond grateful for her second chance at life. Thanks to the gift of her donor, Joceline can enjoy time with her younger siblings, volunteer in church, and continue her work as a certified nurse’s assistant. She is even considering becoming a donor herself. “No words can explain how grateful I am, and how much I appreciate all your loved one has done for me in my life,” Joceline writes to her donor family. “I am still recovering, but I feel like a caterpillar. I am learning to walk again, and one day thanks to your loved one … I will be able to spread my wings and fly, just like a butterfly.”
After an examination, doctors confirmed that Joceline’s ongoing pain was caused by a benign tumor, located right below her left knee. “My whole world felt as if it were crashing down,” Joceline remembered. Months later, she was taken to the hospital to remove the tumor and strengthen her leg, but the damage was considerable. “The tumor was eating at my bone,” she added. “My condyle was worn out, almost completely gone.” It was then that doctors decided that Joceline would need surgery using an osteochondral tissue graft, utilizing donated cartilage and bone tissue. These donations would help save Joceline’s leg.
Today, Joceline is beyond grateful for her second chance at life. Thanks to the gift of her donor, Joceline can enjoy time with her younger siblings, volunteer in church, and continue her work as a certified nurse’s assistant. She is even considering becoming a donor herself. “No words can explain how grateful I am, and how much I appreciate all your loved one has done for me in my life,” Joceline writes to her donor family. “I am still recovering, but I feel like a caterpillar. I am learning to walk again, and one day thanks to your loved one … I will be able to spread my wings and fly, just like a butterfly.”
Joceline Perez
Title :
Fly Like a Butterfly
isDonor :
No
isRecipient :
Yes
Sort order :
For aspiring nurse Joceline Perez Hernandez, helping others has always been a priority. In her spare time, Joceline loves a good run—a sensation she compares to flying. Overtime, she noticed a small stinging in her left knee, but did not think much of it. However, things changed one Thanksgiving when Joceline and her family decided to go for a hike, resulting in a bad slip that placed immeasurable pain on Joceline’s leg. She was immediately rushed to the ER.
After an examination, doctors confirmed that Joceline’s ongoing pain was caused by a benign tumor, located right below her left knee. “My whole world felt as if it were crashing down,” Joceline remembered. Months later, she was taken to the hospital to remove the tumor and strengthen her leg, but the damage was considerable. “The tumor was eating at my bone,” she added. “My condyle was worn out, almost completely gone.” It was then that doctors decided that Joceline would need surgery using an osteochondral tissue graft, utilizing donated cartilage and bone tissue. These donations would help save Joceline’s leg.
Today, Joceline is beyond grateful for her second chance at life. Thanks to the gift of her donor, Joceline can enjoy time with her younger siblings, volunteer in church, and continue her work as a certified nurse’s assistant. She is even considering becoming a donor herself. “No words can explain how grateful I am, and how much I appreciate all your loved one has done for me in my life,” Joceline writes to her donor family. “I am still recovering, but I feel like a caterpillar. I am learning to walk again, and one day thanks to your loved one … I will be able to spread my wings and fly, just like a butterfly.”
After an examination, doctors confirmed that Joceline’s ongoing pain was caused by a benign tumor, located right below her left knee. “My whole world felt as if it were crashing down,” Joceline remembered. Months later, she was taken to the hospital to remove the tumor and strengthen her leg, but the damage was considerable. “The tumor was eating at my bone,” she added. “My condyle was worn out, almost completely gone.” It was then that doctors decided that Joceline would need surgery using an osteochondral tissue graft, utilizing donated cartilage and bone tissue. These donations would help save Joceline’s leg.
Today, Joceline is beyond grateful for her second chance at life. Thanks to the gift of her donor, Joceline can enjoy time with her younger siblings, volunteer in church, and continue her work as a certified nurse’s assistant. She is even considering becoming a donor herself. “No words can explain how grateful I am, and how much I appreciate all your loved one has done for me in my life,” Joceline writes to her donor family. “I am still recovering, but I feel like a caterpillar. I am learning to walk again, and one day thanks to your loved one … I will be able to spread my wings and fly, just like a butterfly.”
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MTF Biologics is a registered trademark of the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation.
MTF Biologics is a registered trademark of the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation.
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