The Call That Saves a Life

November 5, 2025

This article shares firsthand accounts from eight Black Americans who received organ transplants, highlighting both their struggles and gratitude. Black patients face disproportionately high rates of organ failure and longer wait times, though they represented nearly a quarter of the 48,000 transplant recipients last year. The patients describe their journeys from diagnosis through transplantation, including experiences with heart failure, kidney disease, and cancer, with wait times ranging from days to years.

Who is affected

Black Americans needing organ transplants (disproportionately represented in the transplant waiting population)
The eight individuals interviewed: patients who received hearts, kidneys, and bone transplants
Craig Merritt (kidney transplant recipient who spent years on dialysis)
Ieesha Johnson (bone transplant recipient after cancer diagnosis)
A mother and her son Micah (both heart transplant recipients with Danon disease)
Approximately 5,000 people who die annually while waiting on transplant lists
Family members and caregivers of transplant patients
Teens ages 12-18 who participate in Transplant Teenz support network

What action is being taken

Transplant patients are taking immunosuppressants and other medications daily (ranging from 20 to 40 pills per day)
Nurses are visiting one patient four times weekly for post-transplant care
Micah is running Transplant Teenz, a support network for teens ages 12-18 going through transplants
Patients are receiving ongoing medical monitoring at transplant centers
One recipient continues advocating for universal organ donation

Why it matters

This matters because it exposes the life-or-death disparities in organ transplantation affecting Black Americans, who face disproportionate rates of organ failure due to higher incidences of conditions like hypertension and diabetes. The stories humanize the approximately 5,000 annual deaths of people waiting for organs that never arrive, demonstrating that the transplant system forces patients to wait until their bodies deteriorate. These personal accounts reveal the systemic healthcare challenges, including patient advocacy needs and the limited organ supply, while also showcasing how successful transplantation can restore lives and create advocates who promote donation awareness in their communities.

What's next

One patient states he is "looking forward to getting better" and wants to live
A recipient mentioned working toward recovery and allowing her body to heal
One patient plans to continue operating Transplant Teenz to support other teenagers
Multiple recipients express commitment to advocating for organ donation

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle