Donor Network of Arizona

You've heard of the donor heart on your license, or maybe you've seen us at a community event. But, what exactly do we do?

Join us at our office for a farmers market with local vendors! We'll celebrate breast reconstruction awareness, health, wellness and community at the BRAvo Market. 📅Wednesday, Oct. 21 ⌚3-7 p.m. 📍Donor Network of Arizona Tempe office Sign up👉 lp.constantcontactpages.com/…

That's a wrap on Data Summit on the Horizon! ☀️🌵 This week, Donor Network of Arizona was the host organ procurement organization (OPO) for Data Summit on the Horizon! The multi-day event brought together business intelligence and DevOps professionals from across the OPO community for four days of collaboration, innovative thinking, meaningful connections and a little Arizona fun! From insightful discussions and shared ideas to opportunities to connect beyond the conference sessions, the week was a reminder of the power of collaboration and the important role data and technology play in advancing our shared mission of saving and healing lives through organ and tissue donation. Thank you to everyone who traveled to Arizona, shared their expertise and helped make this summit a success. We're grateful to have been part of it! 💙💚

Happy October! 🎃 Looking to get out into the community? Here's where we'll be this month: Freemont Freebies Friday, Oct. 2 2:30-4:40 p.m. 📍NorthREC Tempe Library Volunteer Fair Sunday, Oct. 4 1:30-4:30 p.m. 📍Tempe Public Library Native Health Open House and Health Fair Saturday, Oct. 10 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 📍Native Health Center Phoenix Pride Festival Sunday, Oct. 11 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. or 4:30-10 p.m. 📍Arizona Center 7th Annual Donor Dash Registration Table Saturday, Oct. 17 7:30-11:30 a.m. 📍Kiwanis Park BRAvo Farmers Market at DNAZ Wednesday, Oct. 21 3-7 p.m. 📍DNAZ Rio Trunk or Treat at Brick Road Coffee Saturday, Oct. 24 4-9 p.m. 📍 Brick Road Coffee Tempe Tucson Classics Car Show Saturday, Oct. 24 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. or 1-4 p.m. 📍 The Gregory School Phoenix PKD Walk Sunday, Oct. 25 9 a.m. - noon 📍 Chaparral Park Abrazo West: Rescue Roundup Safety Fair Saturday, Oct. 31 7:30-10:30 a.m. 📍 Abrazo West Campus - east parking lot Movimiento Family Fun Run + Resource Fair Saturday, Oct. 31 8 a.m. - noon 📍 Ed & Verma Pastor Elementary School For event details and to sign up as a volunteer, visit dnaz.org/partners/volunteer/.

This month we're celebrating our driver license partners at @ArizonaDOT. They're driven to save lives, literally. These partners give Arizonans the lifesaving opportunity to register as organ and tissue donors. It’s by far the most common way people sign up!

September is Driven to Save Lives Month! 🚗 More than 95% of Arizonans currently registered to save lives through organ donation made that generous decision while visiting an @ArizonaDOT MVD or authorized third party office. To our partners: THANK YOU! You are truly lifesavers. 💚

We have an update! 💙💚 Our username has changed, but our mission hasn’t. If you’ve followed us as @DonateLifeAZ, you’ll notice our page name update to @DonorNetworkAZ. It’s the same team, the same stories and the same commitment to connecting the gift of life to those who need it.

In 2022, Luke Pelka and his wife, Alexi Kuska, had to cancel a planned mountain biking trip to Haleakalā Volcano in Hawaii because he felt concerned about his health. Pelka, then diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and LMNA genetic mutation, faced severe heart and kidney failure and constant anxiety. Pelka’s heart condition was particularly distressing because he had an ejection fraction of just 12%, meaning its blood flow was very weak. Late one night, Pelka received the call for his lifesaving transplant. After 20 hours of surgery, he successfully received a new heart and kidney. They later returned to Hawaii. “I remember asking the guide, ‘If I want to pedal the fastest, where can I go?’” he said. 🌋

Every stitch counts. Every story deserves to be told. Arizona Donor Quilts are tributes to donors and the families who love them. Each handmade quilt square tells a story, stitched with memories and care. 🩵

Forever a Champion... Mario Abraham Torres Jr., known as Abraham to his family and Mario to friends, was a vibrant young man with big dreams of becoming a professional boxer. Strong, kind and deeply protective of his mother and two sisters, Abraham inspired those around him with his determination, love and encouragement. In October 2023, after a fatal head injury during training, his mother, Brooke Ballesteros, made the courageous decision to authorize organ donation, something she knew her son would have wanted. Abraham went on to save and heal multiple lives. Brooke finds comfort in knowing “his death was not in vain. He still got to be the hero in his story.” She has connected with several of his recipients, even meeting the men who received her son’s heart and kidney.

Spiderman isn't the only one who got a brand new day.

Tell us your guesses for our 💙 and 💚 in the comments below! Hint: They're not the same blue and green as the Donate Life logos.

ICYMI: Connor, brother of donor hero Braden, threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Donate Life Day at the D-backs this year. July also happened to be the one-year anniversary of his passing. What a way to honor his legacy 💙 Watch more at youtube.com/watch?v=Vj1n0dRm….

Derek never met a stranger, always had a silly joke to share and greeted the world with a smile. His generosity grew tenfold after his passing as a donor. Read Derek's story and register in his honor at dnaz.org/stories/derek-colun…. 🩵

We just saw a new milestone in the world of donation! 📢 Elizabeth Wehrle, a 36-year-old mother from Iowa received the first known quadruple organ transplant in the United States involving liver, kidney and re-transplanted lungs at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Learn more at youtube.com/watch?v=TlTnnWRV….

We partnered with Levi Roy, a Navajo artist, to create this design that reflects the spirit of giving, connection and life. 🩵 This drawing is one of many depictions of the Navajo ancestry story of White Shell Woman, who is a spiritual being that represents change, growth and life. But instead of white shell, opal stone colors are used to amplify a representation of colors of the rainbow. This is also a depiction of the action of giving and nurturing those around you with your presence, no matter what that looks like. No matter the change of trajectory or direction in our lives like the wind, we can always be there, and it can mean something.

Donate Life Day at the Arizona Diamondbacks is more than just a day at the ballpark. This year's game is Saturday, July 18. ⚾ Read more at dnaz.org/take-me-out-to-the-….

Red, white & blue (and sometimes green) 💚 Happy Fourth of July!

For transplant recipients: What words of hope would you share with someone who is still waiting? Tell us in the comments below 🩵

Did you know? Following the miracle of life, the placenta can be donated to aid in the healing of various procedures or severe burns. 🩵 Learn more at ow.ly/yTIE50ZhocL.