WARRENSVILLE HEIGHTS, Ohio — Colleen Gerber doesn’t take life for granted, as she’s been given two second chances at it. 

What You Need To Know

  • April is National Donate Life Month and the need for organ, eye and tissue donors is ongoing

  • One donor can save the lives of eight people and heal the lives of as many as 50 people

  • The number of deceased organ donors and deceased donor organ transplants performed in 2020 in the U.S. reached an all-time high

  • Those interested in joining the Ohio donor registry can join at a local BMV

“I've been on that waiting list, waiting for that call to tell me that there was a kidney available for me. And then of course I've been on the celebration side. I've been given more than 30 years of dialysis free life, dialysis free living because of the gift of two organ donors,” said Gerber. 

Gerber received her first kidney transplant in 1985 from her sister, Joan. She received her second one from a random, perfect match in 2005, something she calls 'winning the kidney lottery.'

“To this day, I find [the second transplant] so poignant and so striking. And that was in 2005. So I don't know who he is. I don't know his family. I lovingly call him 'Earl' to pay homage to him. And Earl has been working and functioning for 15 years, over 15 years,” said Gerber. “I've just been grateful every day for his gift, knowing that he gives me the energy to come here to Lifebanc and give back to others.” 

Those donations saved her life, so she now donates her time to working for the nonprofit Lifebanc. She’s the digital and social media specialist and encourages people to become registered organ and tissue donors.

“It's a privilege for me to be able to work with donor families, meet donor families and thank them from the recipient side of things,” said Gerber. “We know what they have given up. We know how terrible their tragedy was for them to lose the loved one, and then to stop in the middle of their grief and think about somebody else who is on that waiting list and say, 'Yes,' and then go through that process, the recovery process, they're very special people and we honor them every way we can here at Lifebanc.”

The number of deceased organ donors and deceased-donor organ transplants performed in 2020 in the United States reached an all-time high. At the start of the pandemic Heather Mekesa, chief operations officer at Lifebanc didn’t know what to anticipate, but said the results are a testament to kindness and humanity. 

“It really speaks to our community and the healthcare workers within our community, because donation was still made a priority. So that those lives could still be saved of the individuals waiting on the transplant waiting list,” said Mekesa. “We're always here to answer any questions, dispel any myths or misconceptions about donation, but it is really just something that I urge the community to think about and signing up for that gift to give. And if you do have that opportunity, it just means so much for the individuals waiting for any kind of transplant.”

Yet, the waiting list has no end. Gerber got her second chance, twice, and now works every day to help others get theirs. 

“I got married, we have a home, you know, we have just a, not a very exciting life, but it's a life that I love. You know, I have two little dogs that crack me up every day. And it's those kinds of simple things in life that I'm so grateful for. Just being able to get up every day and give back to the world. That's what I want to do,” said Gerber. “We all have that power to save a life and we all need to make that decision. It is personal and it’s something you know that you can do for somebody else. So that when you pass, you know that you've left a legacy of life for someone else. I mean it’s the best of humanity, it really is.” 

Those interested in joining the Ohio donor registry can do so at the BMV when you renew your driver’s license, or 24/7 online at lifebanc.org.