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
Karen Hezlep
Growing up, Karen Hezlep shared everything with her two younger sisters. From dolls to clothes to secrets, it seemed that the trio would always be inseparable. “They’ve always been my best friends,” the wife and mom-of-two recalled. However, after the diagnosis of her youngest sister and the sudden death of her middle sister, Karen soon learned that the siblings shared something much more dire – breast cancer.
The death of her sister caused major ripples in Karen’s and her family’s life. “It came as a shock to all of us,” she explained. “She was fine one day and gone the next. It wasn’t until after her death that we learned she was also diagnosed with breast cancer.” Concerned for her health, doctors quickly placed Karen in a high-risk breast cancer program. After the first MRI screening, Karen learned she had cancer in both breasts. “There was a weird feeling of inevitability,” she shared. While the cancer required a mastectomy on one side and only a lumpectomy on the other, Karen requested a bilateral mastectomy, a decision that saved her life when the other side proved fatal as well. She was then given reconstructive surgery using donated human skin grafts. The donation reminded Karen of her sister, who was a nurse and donated her corneas to help give others the gift of sight.
Today, Karen is cancer free and grateful to have more time with family and friends. When looking at her new body, she remembers her sister and the immeasurable gift her donor has given her. As a donor herself, Karen was eager to let her donor family know what their sacrifice meant to her. “Thank you for giving me the chance to have my life back and to feel normal again,” Karen wrote. “I can’t put a price on it, and I’ll never be able to explain how grateful I am for that gift.”
Karen Hezlep
Growing up, Karen Hezlep shared everything with her two younger sisters. From dolls to clothes to secrets, it seemed that the trio would always be inseparable. “They’ve always been my best friends,” the wife and mom-of-two recalled. However, after the diagnosis of her youngest sister and the sudden death of her middle sister, Karen soon learned that the siblings shared something much more dire – breast cancer.
The death of her sister caused major ripples in Karen’s and her family’s life. “It came as a shock to all of us,” she explained. “She was fine one day and gone the next. It wasn’t until after her death that we learned she was also diagnosed with breast cancer.” Concerned for her health, doctors quickly placed Karen in a high-risk breast cancer program. After the first MRI screening, Karen learned she had cancer in both breasts. “There was a weird feeling of inevitability,” she shared. While the cancer required a mastectomy on one side and only a lumpectomy on the other, Karen requested a bilateral mastectomy, a decision that saved her life when the other side proved fatal as well. She was then given reconstructive surgery using donated human skin grafts. The donation reminded Karen of her sister, who was a nurse and donated her corneas to help give others the gift of sight.
Today, Karen is cancer free and grateful to have more time with family and friends. When looking at her new body, she remembers her sister and the immeasurable gift her donor has given her. As a donor herself, Karen was eager to let her donor family know what their sacrifice meant to her. “Thank you for giving me the chance to have my life back and to feel normal again,” Karen wrote. “I can’t put a price on it, and I’ll never be able to explain how grateful I am for that gift.”
Karen Hezlep
Growing up, Karen Hezlep shared everything with her two younger sisters. From dolls to clothes to secrets, it seemed that the trio would always be inseparable. “They’ve always been my best friends,” the wife and mom-of-two recalled. However, after the diagnosis of her youngest sister and the sudden death of her middle sister, Karen soon learned that the siblings shared something much more dire – breast cancer.
The death of her sister caused major ripples in Karen’s and her family’s life. “It came as a shock to all of us,” she explained. “She was fine one day and gone the next. It wasn’t until after her death that we learned she was also diagnosed with breast cancer.” Concerned for her health, doctors quickly placed Karen in a high-risk breast cancer program. After the first MRI screening, Karen learned she had cancer in both breasts. “There was a weird feeling of inevitability,” she shared. While the cancer required a mastectomy on one side and only a lumpectomy on the other, Karen requested a bilateral mastectomy, a decision that saved her life when the other side proved fatal as well. She was then given reconstructive surgery using donated human skin grafts. The donation reminded Karen of her sister, who was a nurse and donated her corneas to help give others the gift of sight.
Today, Karen is cancer free and grateful to have more time with family and friends. When looking at her new body, she remembers her sister and the immeasurable gift her donor has given her. As a donor herself, Karen was eager to let her donor family know what their sacrifice meant to her. “Thank you for giving me the chance to have my life back and to feel normal again,” Karen wrote. “I can’t put a price on it, and I’ll never be able to explain how grateful I am for that gift.”
MTF Biologics is a registered trademark of the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation.
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