Riley, Heart Recipient
In the kitchen, Riley keeps things cooking
Ernie and Kim Wright welcomed the birth of their third child, a precious girl, on February 18, 2001. Their joy turned quickly to worry, however, when little Riley was whisked away before they could even hold her and placed on a heart transplant waiting list. Forty-seven days after being placed on the waiting list, Riley received the gift of life thanks to the generosity of another family, whose own loss was turned into a blessing for the Wrights. “I take nothing for granted,” says Kim Wright, “I don’t focus on planning for the future, I look at the here and now – and the gift the we have received is incomprehensible. I will not waste a second.” Riley, now 3 ½, is a natural performer who loves to join her mother in the kitchen or sing and dance with her older brothers Beau, 12, and Grier, 8. “She does not lead a sedate and fragile lifestyle,” says her mom, “she jumps right in.”

Ines, Heart Recipient
Ines Gonzalez is a man with a green thumb and a golden heart
Doctors had given up on Ines Gonzalez long before he was ready to give up on himself. Heart attacks and bypass surgeries had taken away his strength and left his physical body wheelchair bound, but never his spirit – so Ines took his fate into his own hands and went in search of doctors who would believe in his will to live. He was placed on a waiting list for the heart transplant that was his only option. Four months later, in June 2003, the call came and he received his second chance at life. In less than a year, Ines was back in full force, walking six miles a day, maintaining his own lawn and lush tropical garden, and enjoying retirement with his wife of more than 30 years, Elvira. When Ines is not delivering home grown tomatoes, peppers and yucca to his neighbors, he visits with his three grandchildren, ages 7, 8 and 10. He looks forward to contacting the family who so generously provided him with the opportunity to live again, and he is thankful to God for his will to live an active life.

Stacie, Kidney Recipient
Stacie Harrison is a beacon of health, thanks to a kidney transplant.
Stacie Harrison has traveled the Eastern United States and abroad in search of her passion – lighthouses. In fact, her biggest gripe about dialysis was that it didn’t allow her to pursue that historical love. Stacie, however, felt very fortunate that she did not have to wait long for her renewed chance at life – she had two older sisters, Cheri and Julie, who were both willing and able to donate, and the doctors chose to take the better match. In August 2001, Stacie received a kidney transplant, with her entire family, all of who had traveled from her small hometown in Illinois to aid in her recovery, by her side. Today Stacie works as a graphic designer, and, in the company of her longtime fiancé Mark, she is back on the trail of the most beautiful lighthouses in the world.

Rachel, Tissue Recipient
Rachel Askew and pet therapy dog Yoda are winners in the most important contest of all – Life.
Rachel Askew was born with a congenital heart condition that required surgery before she was even one year old. Experiencing few problems after, Rachel lived a normal childhood. A routine doctor’s visit, however, found a valve that was not functioning properly – and a problem that, left untreated, would enlarge Rachel’s heart and eventually cause it to fail. The only solution was a valve transplant, which Rachel received at age 18. Over time, Rachel truly came to understand the gift that a family had so generously chosen to share with her, and she realized that she must give back. She took her message to the public, competing in and winning pageants with donation as her platform, and eventually competing for her state pageant title. She, along with service dog Yoda, enjoys visiting residents of an assisted living facility. While she has majored in music education, Rachel is now turning towards another career. “I couldn’t imagine myself happier than I am when I am sharing the importance of organ and tissue donation. I would love to tell my donor family about everything they have allowed me to do as a result of my valve transplant” Rachel says, and she now plans to pursue a career working with non-profit organizations.

Darson, Cornea Recipient
Darson Bullard sees life as a whole new ball game.
Darson Bullard was diagnosed with Keratoconus, a condition in which the cornea thins and eventually bulges, resulting in a progressive distortion in the way that those suffering from this rare disorder view the world around them. Darson’s eyesight deteriorated, eventually leaving him legally blind in one eye. While his condition never dampened his enthusiasm for life, it certainly cramped his style. Once Darson realized that his driving was affected, especially at night, he knew that it was time to seek medical intervention. A cornea transplant on Valentines Day two years ago restored Darson’s vision and allowed him to continue to take part in the activities he holds dearest – coaching little league football, riding roller coasters at theme parks and spending time with his wife, Debbie, and his college-age daughter, Jenna.

Jillian, Donor/Heart Recipient
Jillian Black led by example
Jillian Black was born with heart disease, which led to the need for a heart transplant when she was only 20. Not one to sit around feeling sorry for herself, Jillian was quickly back into the swing of things – back to school, volunteering to share the miracle of transplantation with others, and enjoying relationships with her family and long-term boyfriend. She worked with the Donate Life Florida on Get Carded - a college based organ donation awareness program at her school, and she graduated with a degree in Mass Communication in 2005. Only weeks after graduation, four years after she had received her heart transplant, Jillian passed away unexpectedly. True to the determination that Jillian showed in all aspects of her life, her heart was beating strongly until the end. In her death, Jillian did as she lived – and she gave the gift of life as an organ and tissue donor, providing both kidneys and corneas for transplant. The Black family carries on Jillian’s legacy in her memory – continuing to share her story of life and survival with others, and talking about the importance of organ and tissue donation.