How Kansas City can keep saving lives with organ transplants | Opinion

We all like to think, “It won’t happen to me.” But for more than 100,000 people waiting for a transplant, the need for organ donation or transplant arrives without warning — changing lives forever.

That’s the reality for the family of former NFL football player Nick Mangold, who died last month from an unexpected kidney disease — the most common reason for kidney transplants. Fast-forward to actor Jesse Eisenberg, an altruistic donor who is promising to donate a kidney to a stranger in December. Stories like these happen every day in our community: someone in need of a lifesaving organ transplant, and someone willing to give that gift.

What is often missing in these journeys is education and support. That is why Gift of Life KC exists — to lift up families navigating the organ transplant journey.

Our story dates back to 1996, when Gift of Life founders Nate and Kim Harbur’s son, Luke, needed a pediatric liver transplant. During this time, Melody and Kris Drake lost their 8-year-old son Aaron in a tragic accident while camping in the Ozarks. Luke received Aaron’s liver, and now lives a full life.

Following his recovery, the Harburs joined forces with others, including the Drake family, to create Gift of Life, a nonprofit organization that offers educational information to schools, civic groups and spiritual communities.

We help families while also educating our community in a number of ways.

We connect patients with a Transplant Mentor — a trained volunteer who has personal experience with transplant. The program, considered a national model for providing support, is now working with 47 hospitals across the country. Mentors may be someone who has received a transplant, a caregiver for a family member or friend, a living donor or a donor family member.

Every trained Transplant Mentor understands the standards and expectations of the program. They do not provide medical advice, but they do help patients become their own best advocates while brainstorming ideas, from how to talk about your transplant journey with friends and family to navigating post-transplant life. Transplant Mentors fill the gap between hospitals, medical staff and the daily challenges of navigating treatment — at no charge to the patient or family.

Educating our community about organ donation is also part of our mission. The Gift of Life KC Life Savers program partners with teachers and schools by providing in-person and online presentations free of charge for high school students to encourage them to share their informed decisions about organ, eye and tissue donation with their loved ones by having a conversation — because the conversation matters.

Our purpose for educating our community includes presentations about organ, tissue and eye donation to businesses and organizations.

With that purpose also comes the need for funding — because when people believe in a mission that changes the lives of organ transplant families, we can turn hope into action. Our next annual GoSeeDo event on May 2, 2026, is a one-of-a-kind experience featuring exclusive tours of unique Kansas City venues to support our vision of supporting families.

In his last few days of life, Nick Mangold said, “I always knew this day would come, but I thought I would have more time.”

He never thought it would happen to him. You can make a difference in the lives of families facing similar situations.

Educate yourself, your friends and your community about organ donation. You can learn more at giftdonor.org

Kristin Wing is board chair of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Gift of Life. She lives in Leawood.

This story was originally published November 18, 2025 at 5:08 AM.