A Thanksgiving reflection on the gift of life and the power of gratitude: Katie Payne

Guest columnist Katie Payne is CEO of Lifebanc, Northeast Ohio’s only nonprofit organ and tissue recovery organization.

As families gather this Thanksgiving — around full tables with even fuller hearts — many of us will pause to reflect on what we’re thankful for: family, friends, health and the simple joy of being together.

At Lifebanc, gratitude holds an especially profound meaning.

Every day, we witness one of the most extraordinary expressions of generosity imaginable — the gift of life through organ, eye and tissue donation.

It is a privilege to see what happens when compassion triumphs over loss and selflessness transforms tragedy into hope.

This season, I find myself thinking about two sides of that same gift — the families who say yes to donation in their darkest moments and the recipients who are alive today because of that courageous decision.

For donor families, Thanksgiving can be bittersweet. The empty chair at the table is a reminder of the loved one who’s no longer here.

I know that feeling personally. My brother, Billy, was a tissue donor. His decision gave others the chance to live.

For families like mine, gratitude comes with both heartache and healing, knowing that love and legacy can live on through the gift of life.

For recipients, every Thanksgiving is more than a holiday — it’s a milestone.

They’ve been given a second chance that they don’t take lightly. They wake up each day with renewed purpose, grateful for the donor who made it possible.

Many honor that gift by volunteering, mentoring others who are waiting for a donation or living their lives in ways that give back.

Their gratitude becomes a way of life — a quiet, steadfast reminder of how deeply intertwined our lives truly are.

Behind every transplant are countless hands and hearts that make these miracles possible.

Our healthcare professionals, first responders and hospital partners work tirelessly to ensure that each gift is honored, each family is supported and each recipient has the best possible chance at a healthy future.

Their compassion and expertise are the unseen threads that connect donors to recipients, families to futures and hope to healing.

This Thanksgiving, as you reflect on what you’re grateful for, I ask you to take a moment to think about what it means to give, to receive and to make a difference that lasts far beyond a single day.

Organ donation saves lives, yet the number of people registering to become donors has declined.

That means fewer second chances, fewer families experiencing the joy of knowing their loved one’s legacy lives on and fewer people able to share another Thanksgiving meal together.

You have the power to change that.

Registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor is one of the most meaningful ways to give thanks for your own life.

It’s a promise that your kindness will endure and that even after you’re gone, your generosity will save and heal others.

It’s a simple act that takes only a minute online at lifebanc.org or when you renew your driver’s license at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. But its impact is immeasurable.

This holiday season, let’s honor gratitude not only in words, but in action. Let’s make sure that hope continues to find its way to those who need it most.

From all of us at Lifebanc, I wish you and your loved ones a warm and meaningful Thanksgiving — one that is filled with reflection, connection and hope.

I invite you to give the ultimate gift by saving a life. Register today.

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