OHIO — Colleen Gerber now uses her voice and experiences to share stories of organ donation. She began working at Lifebanc, northeast Ohio’s only nonprofit organ and tissue recovery organization, more than 20 years ago. It’s a place the two-time kidney recipient said she belongs.
“Back in 1984, I was diagnosed with kidney failure. I was on dialysis, and we went through the process of finding a living organ donor for me. My sister, Joan, was a good match, and we had a kidney transplant. She gave me her kidney in February of 1985. Fast forward 21 years and that kidney failed, and I was in need for a second one. And that’s when I really experienced the beauty and the generosity of organ donation,” Gerber said.
Gerber’s second kidney came from a complete stranger, a deceased donor, who she said he saved her life for a second time.
“He was a perfect match for me, (a) match better than my own family. A stranger saved my life. There is nothing more profound than that,” Gerber said.
Gerber said she is grateful for each donor family and living donor she connects with through Lifebanc.
“Receiving a kidney from a stranger and then coming back to work at Lifebanc changed me profoundly. It really identified that this was a vocation for me, this was a mission for me personally.”
Lifebanc’s shadow box room, which displays deceased donors and their stories, is Gerbers’ daily motivation.
“When I come in here and I read these stories, it really inspires me to do the best job that I can and to make sure that these stories are shared not only in the wall of Lifebanc, but in the community. Each individual is a hero,” Gerber said.
