05/06/2026
What an inspiration! Thanks to Payton and Donate Life America for sharing her story.
Wright State University
"I received a heart transplant as a child. I was very young when my family got the call that a donor heart was available, and that call changed the entire course of my life. My donor was Christian Caruana. Because he was registered as an organ donor, and because his mom, Mary, said yes to organ donation in the middle of unimaginable grief, I am alive today. Because of that decision, I’ve been able to grow up. I’ve graduated. I’ve built a career. I’ve laughed with friends, loved deeply, and experienced milestones I never would have had without a transplant. Organ donation didn’t just save my life, it gave me a future.
When you register as a donor, you’re not just checking a box. You’re giving someone more birthdays, more ordinary days that feel extraordinary, more time with the people they love. I live every day grateful for the gift I was given. If you’ve ever considered registering, I hope my story encourages you to say yes." – Payton 💙💚 Register your decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor at RegisterMe.org today.