TRIO-Maryland Chapter, Inc./ An Organ Transplant Support Group

08/22/2026

A groom shared the traditional mother-son dance with the woman who got his mother's lungs in a lifesaving transplant. >>> http://www.cleveland19.com/2026/07/28/groom-shares-dance-with-woman-who-got-his-mothers-lungs-lifesaving-transplant/

08/20/2026

08/19/2026

🧡 TEAM CAPTAIN SPOTLIGHT: JERRY & EILEEN CHIAT 🧡

For more than 12 years, Jerry and Eileen Chiat have turned a life-changing kidney journey into a commitment to helping others.

Jerry’s journey began after a serious health emergency led to dialysis three times a week for a year. When he learned he was a candidate for a kidney transplant, Eileen stepped forward to become a living donor. Although she wasn’t a direct match for Jerry, her willingness to donate helped make a paired kidney donation possible.

On May 24, 2012, Jerry received his lifesaving kidney transplant. After surgery, he had the incredible opportunity to meet his donor, Peggy. In her honor, Jerry named his new kidney “Peggy,” and the two have remained friends. 🧡

That experience inspired Jerry and Eileen to dedicate themselves to helping others. For more than a decade, they have volunteered, advocated for kidney patients and organ donation, shared their story with others, and helped answer questions for those navigating kidney disease and transplantation.

Today, they continue that mission as part of the Kidney Walk community, encouraging others to learn about kidney health, transplantation, and the lifesaving impact of organ donation.

We’re proud to spotlight Jerry & Eileen and grateful for the passion and dedication they bring to our Kidney Walk family. 👟🧡

Be the step that changes everything and sign up for a walk today! www.kidneywalk.org

08/18/2026

In Maryland, there are two transplant programs that facilitate living donation, the Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Transplant Center and The Transplant Program at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

To become a living kidney or liver donor, call 410-614-9345.

08/15/2026

I saw my old college friend’s Facebook notification while touring the Van Gogh exhibit at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts early last year: She needed a kidney donor. Without one, she’d require dialysis three times a week, a grim prognosis for someone with diabetes.

https://www.wbur.org/cognoscenti/2026/08/14/kidney-organ-donation-jesse-eisenberg-kidney-failure-mgh-rich-barlow?fbclid=IwY2xjawTtRxJwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6MzmLAD6n12FLNBKm9CcDXJ_eOBsRbZ9RQlC_1Y8SZaJjYQsi2GnYS016HFg_aem_KPIbApmmf8UZ2RLhhQKEYQ

"At age 67, I didn’t suddenly wake up in the morning and say, ‘I want to donate a kidney,'” writes Rich Barlow. Yet his decision to offer his organ took only a week or so. "Concern for a friend motivated me, of course. So did my Catholicism, starting with the Golden Rule."

08/13/2026

Transplant medications can be affected by over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. This is called a “drug interaction,” and it can lead to organ rejection, infections, side effects, or affect other medical problems.

Review these updated guidelines about which medications are safe at http://spr.ly/6186BECl0a and remember to always talk with your doctor about any medications or supplements you are taking.

08/13/2026

Every year on August 13, World Organ Donation Day reminds us of both how far medical science has come and how much work is left to do.

The date honors a monumental moment in healthcare: Dr. Christiaan Barnard’s groundbreaking 1967 heart transplant. But more than a historical milestone, today is a vital reminder of the thousands of men, women, and children currently waiting for a life-saving match.

The gap between those in need of a transplant and the organs available is still vast. Every single day, lives are lost simply because time ran out.

World Organ Donation Day exists to break the silence around organ shortage. It is a day to reflect on the profound gift of life, honor the generosity of donors and their families, and keep hope alive for everyone still waiting on a call. 💚

08/09/2026

Danielle Green's living donor journey started with a simple question: "What if I could?" This led her to two lifesaving acts of generosity, donating both a kidney and a portion of her liver to strangers in need. There is an ongoing need for organ donors and Danielle hopes her story will foster better understanding of the living donor process, especially in minority communities.

VCU Health Hume-Lee Transplant Center VCU Health

For Danielle Green, it was this thought that echoed through her mind as she explored the idea of living donation — voluntarily giving one’s organ, or multiple organs, to someone in need. She’d read an article online about a man who died and donated his organs, later saw another story about tra...

08/08/2026

Kentucky bride-to-be Brooklyn Dotson was only a few months old when she received a lifesaving liver transplant from a little boy. In just a few weeks, the now-24-year-old will marry her hero’s brother.

Kentucky bride-to-be Brooklyn Dotson will marry Noah Waters, the brother of the young boy whose liver donation saved her life as a baby.

08/03/2026

Free and Open to the Public......

TRIO Maryland will hold its August 2026 Monthly Zoom Meeting Saturday Morning -August 8, 2026 @ 11:00 am. edt

"Recent Headlines in Transplant Ethics"

Our Guest Speaker is...
Olivia S. Kates, MD, MA
Associate Professor/ Transplant/Oncology Infectious Diseases
Associate Director for Ethics and Qualitative Research
Johns Hopkins University

Learning Topics...
* What is out of sequence allocation?
* What is Normothermic Regional Perfusion (NRP)?
* What's up with xenotransplantation?

Be sure to check out TRIO Maryland's Upcoming Events @
https://triomaryland.org/events/

Check out our TRIO Maryland's "You Tube Page" @ Click Here ..https://www.youtube.com//featured

Thank You
Michele & Marty
TRIO Maryland