Gift of Life

In this powerful and deeply moving episode of Gift of Life – The Organ Transplant Podcast, we share the extraordinary journey of Mary Ann, a woman in need of a liver transplant who never could have imagined how God was already working behind the scenes. While searching for hope and answers, Mary Ann received devastating news — the passing of her son’s childhood best friend, Jared. With a grieving heart, she went to visit Jared’s parents, Steve and Angie, bringing a simple condolence gift and her love during one of their darkest moments. What happened next is nothing short of a God moment. After Mary Ann left, Angie began reading about her story and learned that Mary Ann was in need of a liver transplant. Moved by compassion, faith, and the unbreakable bond between her son and Mary Ann’s family, Angie felt a calling she couldn’t ignore. After prayer and heartfelt conversations with her husband Steve, Angie made the courageous decision to be tested as a potential donor. Guided by faith and love, Angie stepped forward — and God showed up in a powerful way. Not only was Angie a match… she was a perfect match. This episode is a testimony to divine timing, sacrificial love, and how God can bring healing out of heartbreak. It’s a reminder that even in our deepest grief, God is still writing beautiful stories of hope, life, and purpose. You will not want to miss this incredible, faith-filled story of loss, love, and the miracle of organ donation. In the months following her son Jared's sudden and tragic death, a mother turned her grief into action through an extraordinary act of generosity, becoming a live liver donor to the mother of Jared’s childhood best friend. Jared, a U.S. Marine remembered by family and friends for his compassion and quiet strength, grew up in a household shaped by a strong commitment to service. That legacy is now being carried forward through the soon to be launched Jared’s Light Foundation (www.jaredslightfoundation.org), which is being formed to honor his life by promoting service and Christ-centered hope. To learn more about Jared and the mission inspired by his life, follow along as we prepare to shine his light into the world. Let’s Stay Connected: Email: [email protected] Website: www.giftoflifepodcast.com Facebook: Gift of Life – The Organ Transplant Podcast Listen & Share: https://lnk.to/GiftofLife BJ Odom’s book More Parts Than A Chicken Nugget Grab your copy today: https://a.co/d/gNgC9jO Available in paperback & eBook! If this episode touched your heart, help us spread the message: Subscribe and leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platforms. Share this episode with family and friends. Together, we’re raising awareness, honoring donors, and celebrating new beginnings. Thank you for being part of our life-giving community.

This week on Gift of Life – The Organ Transplant Podcast, I sit down with someone who truly inspired me — Fred Hueston, a man who received his life-saving heart transplant at the age of 72 at AdventHealth in Orlando, Florida. Fred’s story is one of perseverance, faith, and the incredible strength of love. His wife, a nurse, was right by his side through every moment of his transplant journey — a reminder of how powerful support and compassion can be in the healing process. As a 70-year-old transplant recipient myself, I felt a real connection with Fred. We share a bond that only those who’ve faced these challenges can truly understand. Beyond his transplant journey, Fred is also an author of two books about life after transplant, with a third on the way — continuing to give hope and education to others walking a similar path. Fred is also a well-known expert in his field of stone forensics, host of The Stone and Tile Radio Show, and the voice behind an active blog and YouTube channel. His drive to keep creating, helping, and inspiring others is a true testament to living fully after transplant. My heart Journey. Waiting on a heart https://a.co/d/8zbXOr7 My Heart Journey: Waiting on a Heart https://a.co/d/e0P4cBt Or search Frederick M Hueston for all my books 🩺 Learn more about Fred Hueston: 🌐 stoneforensics.com 📞 Office: 321-514-6845 🎙️ The Stone and Tile Radio Show 📺 Fred’s YouTube Channel 📖 Fred’s Articles | Fred’s Shed Blog 📘 Facebook: Stone Forensics 💌 Let’s Stay Connected 📧 Email: [email protected] 🌐 Website: www.giftoflifepodcast.com 📱 Facebook: Gift of Life – The Organ Transplant Podcast 🎧 Listen & Share: https://lnk.to/GiftofLife 📚 BJ Odom’s Memoir More Parts Than a Chicken Nugget – A Story of Survival, Second Chances, and the Family That Held Me Together. 📖 Available in paperback & eBook 🛒 Grab your copy today on Amazon If this episode touched your heart, help us spread the message. 👉 Subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share this story with family and friends. Together, we’re raising awareness, honoring donors, and celebrating new beginnings.

This week’s episode is one that goes beyond stories, statistics, and interviews — it goes straight to the heart. As Christmas arrives, we pause to reflect on what this season truly represents: love, gratitude, and the incredible power of giving. For those touched by organ donation — recipients, donor families, living donors, those still waiting, and the medical teams who make miracles possible — Christmas carries a deeper meaning. It’s a reminder that life itself is the greatest gift we could ever receive. In this special Christmas episode, BJ shares a personal message of gratitude, hope, and reflection. You’ll hear how the holiday season looks different through the eyes of someone living with a second chance — and how donor families continue to inspire courage and compassion through the hardest moments imaginable. This episode honors: The donor families who said “yes” when everything inside them was hurting The medical professionals who work through holidays to save lives The recipients who live every day with gratitude and purpose The brave individuals still waiting for their miracle Everyone who has registered as an organ, eye, or tissue donor Christmas reminds us that the first and greatest gift didn’t come in wrapping paper — it came from the heart. And the miracle of organ donation continues that spirit today. Tune in and join us for a message filled with warmth, reflection, and hope — a celebration of life and the people who make it possible. Stay Connected Email: [email protected] Website: www.giftoflifepodcast.com Facebook: Gift of Life – The Organ Transplant Podcast Listen & Share: https://lnk.to/GiftofLife BJ Odom’s Book More Parts Than a Chicken Nugget A story of survival, second chances, and the family that never gave up. Available now on Amazon: https://a.co/d/cMp1x8G

This week on Gift of Life – The Organ Transplant Podcast, BJ sits down with Kathy Anderson, a true pioneer in the transplant community. Kathy received her life-saving heart transplant over 38 years ago, making her one of the longest-living heart recipients around. Her story begins at just 20 years old, when she was pregnant with twin daughters. What should have been the happiest time of her life quickly turned frightening when a prescribed medication caused severe and lasting damage to her heart. Suddenly, Kathy found herself in the hospital, dependent on an LVAD to stay alive—all while caring for newborn twins. Now, nearly four decades later, Kathy shares her incredible journey of resilience, faith, and family. She tells BJ how she’s planning something big when she reaches her 40-year transplant anniversary—a celebration worthy of the miracle she’s living every day. This episode is a must-listen for anyone touched by organ transplantation or searching for a reminder of the strength of the human spirit. Let’s Stay Connected: Email: [email protected] Website: www.giftoflifepodcast.com Facebook: Gift of Life – The Organ Transplant Podcast Listen & Share: https://lnk.to/GiftofLife BJ Odom’s book More Parts Than A Chicken Nugget Grab your copy today: https://a.co/d/gNgC9jO Available in paperback & eBook! If this episode touched your heart, help us spread the message: Subscribe and leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform. Share this episode with family and friends. Together, we’re raising awareness, honoring donors, and celebrating new beginnings. Thank you for being part of our life-giving community.

This week, we meet Wayne Adam Greer — a husband, father, grandfather, pastor, and author whose faith and resilience carried him through one of life’s biggest challenges. Wayne’s journey began with what seemed like nothing more than a stubborn cold that just wouldn’t go away. After weeks of no improvement, he headed to the ER expecting a simple diagnosis like bronchitis — but instead, doctors discovered he was in congestive heart failure. Within three months, his condition worsened to cardiomyopathy, but through medication and care, his heart stabilized, allowing him to enjoy 17 more blessed years. Then, the unthinkable happened — his heart began to fail again. Facing the ultimate test of faith, Wayne would go on to receive a life-saving heart transplant, giving him not just more time, but a renewed purpose to share his story and inspire others. Let’s Stay Connected: Email: [email protected] Website: www.giftoflifepodcast.com Facebook: Gift of Life – The Organ Transplant Podcast Listen & Share: https://lnk.to/GiftofLife BJ Odom’s Memoir More Parts Than A Chicken Nugget Grab your copy today: https://a.co/d/gNgC9jO Available in paperback & eBook on Amazon. If this episode touched your heart, please subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with family and friends. Together, we’re raising awareness, honoring donors, and celebrating new beginnings. Thank you for being part of our life-giving community.