Stories about organ and tissue donation
How did a donor organ change a recipient's life? And what does donation mean for the donor's surviving relatives? Read the personal stories of recipients, patients on the waiting list, and donor relatives here.
'My lungs are the most beautiful gift imaginable'
Due to cystic fibrosis, Nico's lung function was only sixteen percent. Every movement left him short of breath. Until he received donor lungs.
‘Giving life to another is something beautiful’
Vandana needed a donor liver to survive. After the transplant, she lives with just as much energy as anyone else.
'My choice in the Donor Register doesn't actually align with my values'
Marjolein finds it a struggle: registering her choice in the Donor Register. She actually wants to be a donor, but something is holding her back. And she finds that difficult.
'Someone who needs a kidney might not dare to ask for one'
Shaties' kidney function was only 4%. He needed a donor kidney. He received one from his sister Shanette.
Sharief has a donor kidney: 'Muslims know very little about organ donation'
Sharief lives with a donor kidney. He talks about his kidney and the perspective from Islam.
'With the transplant, Lorenzo was born again'
Baby Lorenzo is alive thanks to a liver donation from a living donor.
'I was given a second chance, that's why I want to commit myself'
Wiebe was only 5 when he already needed a donor liver. He was saved, but after the transplant, he felt different. Years later, he turned that into action.
'I didn't even know donor bone existed'
With her crooked leg, Bo had trouble walking. A bone transplant provided the solution.
'It is a comfort that Tom has given others a chance at life'
After an accident, Tom gave others a new life through organ donation. His mother Elly shares her story about saying goodbye, support, and hope.
'Standing in front of the class feels like coming home'
Jan has cystic fibrosis. Despite his healthy lifestyle, he gradually got worse. Until he received donor lungs.
'An annual donor memorial and celebrating that I am alive'
Due to a rare lung disease, Kim lived a limited life. Until she received donor lungs.
‘Mats let them have everything, except for his eyes and skin’
After a serious accident, doctors can no longer do anything for Mats. Fortunately, his parents know how Mats felt about donation.
‘I thought: a donor organ is for sick people, right?’
In 2012, Jelger van der Weij from Amsterdam is a student with a part-time job. After some vague symptoms, his world is suddenly turned upside down: he has liver cancer. In 2015, he receives a donor liver: the first of three.
‘Her farewell was a party she would have loved to attend herself’
Larimar's parents donated her organs. In doing so, they spared three families the grief they feel.
‘It comforted me that the recipients no longer had to undergo dialysis’
One of Ed's wishes was to donate his organs. His wife Anita tells how this was made possible.
‘That girl's heart can beat thanks to my son's choice’
Teun was hit by a car. There was no hope for recovery. With his organs, he saved lives.
‘Grief is with an o, but for me it's with an a’
Due to an accident, Babette's life comes to an abrupt end. With her organs, she saved several lives.
Enjoying simple things
Since her heart transplant, Carla appreciates every day. She feels great respect for people who decide to donate.
‘I had to give up a lot, but valuable things come back in return’
In 2019, Tineke suddenly became seriously ill: her liver suddenly stopped working. She was lucky: a donor liver became available within a short time. But she had to say goodbye to the life she led. Now she is at peace with her new life.
‘I would do it again in a heartbeat’
Iris donated a kidney to Christel. Even though they didn't know each other.
'When she said she wanted to be a donor, I went completely silent'
Baby Ziva needed a liver transplant quickly. Her aunt stepped in and donated a piece of her liver.
'She lived a short, but full life'
On an ordinary evening, the unthinkable happened: Fleur was hit by a car and died from her injuries. Her organs subsequently saved five other lives.
‘I feel reborn’
Denice was deathly ill, her life was at a standstill. After waiting 3.5 years, she receives a donor liver. This is how she gets her life back.
‘You can't give someone who is so sick a greater gift’
Nienke had a severe brain hemorrhage. The fact that she could give 6 people a better life makes her death less meaningless for her mother, Gerda.
'Sometimes I am desperate, because maybe I won't make it'
Ambar is waiting. She lives in a no-man's-land, hoping for the solution: a new donor kidney.
'People need to talk more about donation'
After a collision, Tygo spends weeks in the hospital; unfortunately, his situation does not improve. His parents make the difficult decision to stop treatment, but knew that Tygo wanted to be a donor.
'A new cornea? Scary, but it couldn't get any worse'
Harmien (62) had pain in her right eye. The ophthalmologist thought it was an infection. She was given eye drops, but they didn't help. It eventually turned out that there was a parasite in Harmien's eye.
'Losing your child, that's just not right'
Kjell, a boy of almost 16, was involved in a car accident and passed away shortly after. His parents talk about their beloved son and how his organ donation gave three people a new life.
'When I think of Frank, I have to smile'
After a brain hemorrhage, Ida loses her husband Frank. Frank donated his organs and corneas. And saved lives with them.
From two transplants to the top of Mont Ventoux
Experiencing an organ transplant twice: that rarely happens. Arjan Haken (54) did experience it.
'It was worth everything to me'
Abigail needed a liver transplant. Her mother Annemieke became a living donor: she donated part of her liver.
Bastiaan received a kidney from both his mother and father
Bastiaan has a hereditary kidney disease and has a donor kidney. His son has the same kidney disease. Bastiaan does everything to support him.
'My friends went out partying, I sat on the couch'
After a few surgeries and long rehabilitation, a donated meniscus turned out to be the solution for Milou's knee injury.
'His death felt less meaningless because of the donation'
In 2014, Martin's father suffered a fatal brain hemorrhage. A long time ago, he had filled out a donor registration form, and shortly before the brain hemorrhage, he had spoken about it with his wife: he wanted to be a donor if anything were to happen to him. That decision helped the family in the grieving process.
'Donation didn't seem like my thing, all that fuss...'
Luc's wife Annemiek is glad he donated organs. Especially after reading the thank-you letters.
'My mother gave others a second life'
Michelle lost her mother to a brain hemorrhage. Two years later, she looks back: with sadness, but also with pride and gratitude.
'Eye tissue is a special gift'
Wendy received a prosthetic eye after a melanoma in her eye. Thanks to donor sclera, it looks almost natural.
Linda received two heart transplants: 'I am living on bonus time'
Linda lives with a donor heart. Despite the complications and seemingly endless rehabilitation, she keeps fighting.
'His strong 19-year-old organs still had a life to go'
Joris saved four lives with his organs. His mother Nicole talks about his choice, the farewell, and the lasting memory.
