Live On Nebraska

06/16/2026

In honor of the 2026 Men's College World Series being in full swing in Omaha, read the story of Matthew Merklein, a dedicated baseball player and donor hero. ⚾❤️

"Matthew began playing baseball from the moment he could hold a bat and hit the ball off his first plastic tee ball set. I believe he was 4 years old when he began playing on an actual team for our town, and from there on, you couldn't stop him. He continued into little league and eventually into the big K-18 traveling league.

Matthew often played short stop or the outfield. No matter the position, he loved the game. He loved being with his friends and being one of the guys! I will never forget the smile on his face the day he executed a bunt to bring runners home and tie the game. He was so proud. That one moment will forever be imprinted in my memory.

Live On has continued to let me keep Matthew's memories of baseball in my heart with information about his donors. I can't thank them enough for that. One of Matt's tissue recipients even earned a baseball scholarship. For that, we are blessed and grateful." - Rebecca and Shawn Merklein, parents of donor hero, Matthew

06/15/2026

Live On Nebraska's Annual Rally for Life Run/Walk is coming up on Sunday, September 13th at Werner Park! 🏃 Leading up to the big event, we are sharing the stories of Rally for Life teams and the why behind their participation.

"I run for my 3 year old son, Peter, who needed a kidney transplant, and my lifelong best friend who donated her kidney to him." - Team Match Made 3.7.24 🩵

For more information and to register for the 2026 Rally for Life visit https://liveonnebraska.org/event/rally-for-life/.

06/14/2026

Share a photo of your flag in the comments! 💙💚

06/13/2026

Yesterday marked the official start to the 2026 Men's College World Series in Omaha! ⚾ Read about donor hero, Noah Benford, whose legacy lives on well beyond the baseball field.

"Noah played baseball for half a season before he became sick, but he was so excited to be part of the team and loved his coach and teammates. At just 6 years old and playing for the first time, he had the chance to play every position on the field, creating memories that will always be cherished. As his mom, one of my favorite memories was taking Noah to practice and then heading to the local ice cream parlor afterward with his little brother and friends. We would sit, chat, and enjoy those simple moments together, memories I will never forget. His dad’s favorite memory was being able to help coach him, sharing in his excitement and watching him develop a love for the game. Noah’s jersey number was 9, and his little brother, Max, proudly chooses number 9 whenever he has the chance in his own sports. It’s a small but meaningful tribute to his big brother and a way of carrying Noah with him every time he steps onto the field." - Michele Benford, mom of donor hero, Noah 💙

06/12/2026

Today is National Movie Day! 🍿🎬 This weekend, we encourage you to grab some popcorn and watch one of these donation-themed movies. Movies are a great way to start conversations about organ donation with family and friends. While not accurate representations of the donation process, these movies highlight the emotions surrounding donation and how the gift of life impacts donor families and recipients.

For Romance Lovers: Return to Me

After losing his wife, a failed blind date turns into an unexpected romance between David Duchovny and Minnie Driver.

For the Family: Ordinary Angels

Inspired by real-life events that lead to a lifesaving transplant in Omaha, Hilary Swank plays a struggling hairdresser determined to help a widowed father and his daughters.

For Fans of Drama: Seven Pounds

Seeking redemption, Will Smith plays a character on a mission to change the lives of seven unknowing recipients.

06/12/2026

"Making life beautiful means finding hope, purpose, and connection in moments that could easily be defined by loss. My connection to donation and transplantation began long before I worked in this field. When I was a child, my Uncle Kevin suffered devastating burns over more than 90% of his body. He survived in part because of a skin graft from a pig, something I did not fully understand at the time but have come to appreciate as an incredible gift. Decades later, a former colleague and friend, Sara, became an organ donor after a tragic car accident. In the midst of heartbreak, her family's decision gave others a second chance at life. Those experiences helped shape the way I view donation, not as an abstract concept, but as something deeply personal.

Today, I have the privilege of supporting donor families through some of the most difficult days of their lives. I am continually humbled by their strength, generosity, and willingness to help others despite their own grief. Those moments remind me that donation is about so much more than saving lives. It is about creating a legacy of hope. It is about helping something beautiful emerge from tragedy. As someone who is currently going through the process to become a living kidney donor, I carry that belief with me every day. Donation and transplantation represent the very best of humanity, and I cannot think of a better example of what it means to make life beautiful." - Raushanah, Donation & Family Advocate

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06/11/2026

Today is National Making Life Beautiful Day. 🦋💗 Live On Nebraska staff shared the ways they see beauty through donation and transplantation.

"In September 2012, my life changed in an instant. My dad unexpectedly passed away at the age of 46. That early September morning, a warm voice came on the line and offered condolences for the loss of my father. She went on to explain that my father had signed up to be an organ, tissue, and eye donor. This came as no surprise to me. My father was the type of person who would give away his last penny to make sure someone else didn't go hungry.

A few months later, I received an invitation to a donor memorial event. It was in that moment that I knew I needed to change my path in life. I wanted to help people differently. I wanted to be there for other families experiencing the same pain and loss. Most importantly, I wanted them to know they were not alone. I changed the focus of my bachelor's degree and worked hard to graduate early so I could pursue this new journey.

One of the questions I am asked most often is, 'How do you deal with death every day?' To me, the answer is simple. I don't deal with death—I help families navigate one of the most difficult times in their lives. Sometimes the loss is sudden and traumatic; other times it is expected. Either way, I am the voice on the other end of the phone offering condolences, answering questions, and helping families through the donation process. The truth is that death and dying are part of life. We lose someone we love, but in those same moments, we can gain an entire community. Every day, I see the impact of donation in ways many people never realize.

Because of my dad's tissue donation, multiple women battling breast cancer were able to undergo mastectomy reconstruction surgery. They were given a greater opportunity to heal and recover because my dad made the courageous decision to become a donor. A rising high school football star tears his ACL during practice. Thanks to the gift of donated tissue, he is able to recover, return to the field, and continue chasing his dreams. These are not just medical procedures. They are second chances. They are opportunities for healing, hope, and renewed purpose. They are legacies carried forward through the selfless decisions of donors and their families.

My father's final gift did more than save and heal lives—it changed mine. What began as the worst day of my life led me to a path I never expected. Through donation, I found a purpose, a career, and a donation family that continues to remind me every day that even in loss, there can be extraordinary generosity, healing, and hope." - Kasey, Advanced Donation Coordinator

06/09/2026

Heart recipient, Shirley Kramer, is inspiring many as she prepares to compete in the National Transplant Games, representing Team Nebraska more than three decades after receiving her transplant. ❤️ A true testament to resilience, hope, and the power of giving the gift of life, Shirley reminds us all what strength and determination look like.

Join us in cheering her and the rest of Team Nebraska on as they compete later this month! 🏅🎉

Shirley Kramer of Bennington has lived 3x longer than average with a donor heart. Now she's competing in Denver for Team Nebraska.

06/09/2026

"Christina and I became friends in the year 2000, we worked together at a title and escrow company. We started as coworkers and grew into sisters. She has become my husband's kidney twin and was our Maid of Honor at our wedding in March of this year. Through our 26-year sisterhood relationship, we have gone through births of her children, marriages, divorce, loss of loved ones, road trips, Caribbean travel and so much more. I am godmother to her oldest boy, and I was also her midwife to her youngest daughter, Brooklyn.

When I realized Christina needed a kidney or she would have to undergo dialysis, I immediately volunteered one of my own. Unfortunately, I was unable to donate. When I spoke with my husband and cryingly told him that I would not be able to help my friend, he offered one of his own, with no questions asked. Once Patrick was accepted to be a living donor, we were included as part of a chain donation. Unfortunately, the chain broke but he was still able to donate to Christina. The day of donation came on January 19th, which oddly enough, just happens to be my birthday! The morning started with her husband and I dropping them off. This was during Covid and we were not allowed to be there during the operation. We hung out all day receiving text messages from UNMC. The emotional roller coaster I experienced with her husband was both unbelievable and breathtaking in equal measure. I was thinking to myself that my best friend and my soulmate are both doing something that's almost impossible, and I didn't want anything bad to happen. This had my expectations and adrenaline running high.

The amount of respect and love that I have for my husband has increased tenfold after making such a profound decision to donate to someone in need. It is indescribable, the selfless act of love that my husband took that day.

Christina had inherited renal kidney disease from her father. Sadly, she lost him to that same disease. While Christina's story has a happy ending and she is living a healthy life watching her children and grandchildren grow up, the story was not without misfortune. Four days after the procedure Christina’s body rejected Pat’s kidney and they were forced to remove it. Thankfully, the Lord blessed her with another opportunity a mere 8 months later and the operation was a resounding success.

A big thank you and shout out to the UNMC transplant team, nurses, doctors and support staff. To anyone that needs an organ transplant, don’t give up and keep fighting." - Holly Hollis on her husband Patrick's kidney donation to her best friend, Christina

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06/07/2026

"Cody was blessed to have parents who loved him very much. They, along with his grandparents, raised an amazing son. He was an incredible young man and a wonderful friend to many people.

Cody had a larger-than-life personality with a great sense of humor. He could light up a room the minute he entered. Cody knew no stranger, and he met friends wherever he went (Cody’s friend, Colten, mentioned that Cody could walk into the grocery store and come out with six new friends). He was surrounded by 20 friends who dropped everything to be with him in his final moments when he suffered a stroke. What a testimony of his friendship.

We heard from so many of Cody’s friends once they learned of his passing. South “Motown” reached out with this message:

'I’ll never forget the times Cody and I had as kids. Thank you so much for sharing him with us. We always kept in touch and caught up every now and then. We talked not too long ago, and he told me he followed along on some of my adventures. I’m still deployed on yet another adventure and know there’s not much I can do from the other side of the world. But, we have a pretty awesome mission out here and a great group. If it’s alright with you, I would like to send you a U.S. flag that I’m going to have flown on our newest aircraft currently on a mission in honor of Cody. I could even bring it if I return home on time.'

Motown was able to receive leave to attend Cody’s celebration of life, and she presented the flag to us at that time.

Cody accomplished a lot in his short 30 years—so much more than many who live to be 80. He enjoyed fishing trips to Vermilion Bay, Ontario, Canada, traveling all over the country with NMC, and working the adventurous oil fields in North Dakota. He loved to go cave spelunking, water skiing, hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking every chance he got. Cody thoroughly enjoyed riding his motorcycle with his friends which took them west through the Rockies, east through the Smoky Mountains on the Tail of the Dragon, and wherever the road would take them. He was always happy when he was exploring the outdoors.

Cody was a solid friend and always there for his family and friends. Trenton Graham, one of his college friends, wrote that 'Cody was the type of man that would look out for you, over himself, and wouldn’t ask for anything in return after helping you out.' Cody had a big heart and was very generous. It was important to him to be a donor—always wanting to help others. Cody’s Uncle Henry went through a double lung transplant at Northwestern just a few months prior to Cody’s passing. Cody always checked on Henry’s progress and was excited to hear good reports. I would like to believe that Henry’s successful transplant confirmed Cody’s decision to be a donor. It has been 18 months since Henry received his new lungs, and Cody would be pleased that his uncle is doing so well. A stranger’s generosity extended Henry’s life, and we are happy to know that Cody’s generosity is helping others.

Cody had many wonderful friends, and he also had a great relationship with his family, spending as much time with them as he could traveling back and forth between Wisconsin, Illinois and Nebraska, taking vacations with family, working on projects with his dad, and just hanging out with his beloved dog, Sweet Pea.

Cody’s family prays that his generosity, humor, adventurous nature, and passion for life continue to inspire us as his love remains forever in our hearts." - Ruth Ann Belding - Mom to donor hero, Cody ❤️