“Don’t sweat the small stuff" 🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋
Sometimes life takes unexpected turns, some that can be very scary and very uncertain. Out of those moments, you can find renewed strength and a profound appreciation for life.
Today, I have the privilege of interviewing three remarkable individuals whose lives intersected as a result of one of those unexpected turns.
Dave Gray is a lifetime resident and native of East Greenbush, N.Y., where he and Cathy, his wife of 44 years built their own home. They have two children, Jodi and Matt; and three grandchildren, Jesse, Lucy and Casey. He is an avid camper, fisherman and hunter and an enthusiastic hobbyist, raising bees; harvesting honey and maple syrup; canning jellies, jams, pickles, salsa, tomatoes, chili sauce; and making his own beer, wine, balsamic vinegar, horseradish, and lip balm.
In 2015, he was struck by viral cardiomyopathy, which compromised his heart, and he was told he would need to be evaluated for heart transplant. Dave was accepted and placed on the organ recipient registry on Dec. 4, 2015, and received a left ventricular assist device, or LVAD, a surgically implanted mechanical heart pump, in March of 2016.
On Aug. 20, 2016, after a year-long battle that included 177 days in the hospital, Dave received his life-saving gift of life: a new heart from a 30-year-old organ donor. Since that time, Dave has been a devoted organ and transplant advocate, raising awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation, and supporting patients anxiously waiting for a transplant or who are going through the donation/recipient process.
Now focusing on his volunteer activities on organ and tissue donation and patient care, Dave is active throughout New York State, traveling to Westchester Medical Center visiting patients and advocating for them on the patient family council.
Dave has organized multiple donor family and recipient meetings. Most memorable to date was introducing a donor mom to her daughter’s heart recipient in 2022.
Dave is truly a man with heart; committed to giving back for his gifts and ensuring others can receive the gift of life as well.
Laura Fisette is the Senior Hospital and Community Services Specialist at the Center for Donation & Transplant in Albany, NY. Her current position has been the most rewarding of her career. She proudly tells everyone at CDT – “We save and enhance lives every day. It doesn’t get better than this!”
The Donate Life Legacy Walk is their largest event bringing in close to 400 people. The event honors donor heroes who gave the gift of life. In attendance are donor families, recipients of these gifts, those who are still waiting for a lifesaving transplant and hospital and community partners. Register Here
And finally, someone you might recognize, especially if you've listened to my previous episode – Lorenzo Beronilla. When I spoke with Lorenzo after his heart transplant, I inquired about his future plans, and he jokingly mentioned participating in a 5k. Well, they say be careful what you wish for, or perhaps it's true that if you ask, you shall receive.
During his wait for a heart transplant at Westchester Medical Center, Lorenzo crossed paths with Dave. Now, following his transplant, Lorenzo has been asked to be the MC at the DonateLifeLegacy Walk this fall, where he will also join in by walking a 5K.
Donate Life Links:
Dave's Links:
Laura's Links:
Lorenzo's Links:
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Time to Elevate original theme song created by Singer Songwriter Victoria Purdy
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