Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network

11/20/2025

It was an honor to once again take part in the Dalton Douglas Dorrity blood drive and Donate Life awareness event held at Adirondack High School. This marked the 9th year of the event since Dalton's sudden passing in 2017. FLDRN's Hospital & Community Development Specialist Kellie Martin (pictured 3rd from left) also had the wonderful opportunity to speak to students about the impact of organ, eye and tissue donation and what it means to be a registered donor.

Special thanks to the Dorrity family for their kindness and generosity in organizing the event and including us in this special day. 💙💚

Learn more about organ donation and register as a donor at www.passlifeon.org

11/07/2025

Did you know a young adult can register as an organ, eye and tissue donor when they obtain a learner permit through the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles? In February 2017, a law took effect allowing 16 and 17 year old New Yorkers to document their decision about donation. Parents do have the right to revoke or amend the enrollment if their child passes away before age 18. Allowing young adults the ability to make their choices about giving the gift of life also gives families an opportunity to talk about this important end-of-life decision.

Live life to the fullest. Help others do the same. Join the donor registry at www.passlifeon.org

Your parents may not be ready, but at 16 you can apply for a learner permit. Learn how: https://dmv.ny.gov/driver-license/prepare-for-and-take-your-permit-test

11/03/2025

In The News: Governor Kathy Hochul signs "The Heart Act" - helping more New Yorkers receive a life-saving organ transplant. Thank you to Donate Life New York State as well the many advocates and elected officials who put forth this important legislation that lifts a ban from patients being listed at multiple transplant centers.

Thanks to your powerful advocacy, we are thrilled to announce signed into law the H.E.A.R.T. (Helping Equal Access to Registration for Transplant) Act! This vital legislation will allow patients to register at multiple transplant centers within New York State simultaneously and improve access to lifesaving organs for all New Yorkers. Our profound thanks to bill sponsors Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes, NYS Assemblywoman and Senator April N.M. Baskin ! Together, we’re shaping a stronger, more hopeful future for the nearly 8,000 New Yorkers waiting for a life-changing transplant!

10/15/2025

What is BRA Day? National Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day is an initiative to promote education and awareness regarding post-mastectomy breast reconstruction.

Tissue donation transforms lives by enabling breast reconstruction for women after mastectomy. This selfless gift restores confidence, supports healing, and brings hope to countless women on their journey to recovery.

Register as a tissue donor at www.passlifeon.org 🩷

10/10/2025

Looks like a wonderful event! So exciting to see the Campbell and Scadlock families there. Holly and Kim have done so much to bring awareness to the gift of organ and tissue donation through their story and their gorgeous voices. Watch their story here: https://youtu.be/M5hJcjDaluI?si=fhDFtxMpgfqpJKh7

10/09/2025

Liver transplant recipient Larry Billings stands proud at the tent at Mount Olivet Baptist Church's 115th Anniversary Walk-A-Thon held last weekend.

Larry's commitment to his church and to our mission serves as a reminder of the power of second chances and what it means to transplant recipients. For Larry, it's living life to the fullest, practicing his faith and giving back to the community (among other inspiring things!).

We appreciate you, Larry. And congratulations to Mount Olivet Baptist Church on this historical milestone!

Register as an organ, eye and tissue donor at www.passlifeon.org .

10/03/2025

October is National Liver Awareness Month! There are more than 9,000 adults and children in the U.S. currently waiting for a donor liver. Did you know that the liver is the only organ that can regenerate itself? That's what makes living liver donation possible. The donated portion of the liver fully regrows within 4 months and will ultimately regain full function. Incredible!

Learn more about living liver donation on UR Medicine's website: www.urmc.rochester.edu/transplant/liver. UR Medicine's Strong Memorial Hospital is upstate New York's only living donor liver transplant center.

Register your decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor, and learn more about deceased donation at www.passlifeon.org.

09/26/2025

Alarming trend: Across the country, people are removing their names from donor registries due to misleading news stories that spread fear, not facts, about organ donation. This could cost the lives of patients on a transplant waitlist. Keep in mind, too, that in addition to life saving organs, donor registry removals could also impact the availability of healing donor tissue and site-restoring cornea transplants. Get the facts about donation at www.passlifeon.org .

I'm alive today because of an organ donation. But since July, thousands of potential donors have reversed their decision. It's the wrong move.

09/18/2025

I'm alive today because of an organ donation. But since July, thousands of potential donors have reversed their decision. It's the wrong move.

09/17/2025

🌟 Celebrating a Decade of Life and Legacy! 🌟

In September of 2015, Scott Hetsko received a life-saving heart transplant at UR Medicine after a grueling battle with cardiac sarcoidosis. That heart came from the selfless gift of 26-year-old U.S. Army Scout Shawn McMullen, a registered organ donor whose generosity changed everything.

Ten years later, Scott is living life to the fullest - back at work, cherishing time with his wife and kids, and living with profound gratitude. But what truly touches our hearts is how Scott and the McMullen family have turned tragedy into triumph. Their advocacy has sparked countless conversations about the power of organ donation right here in our community, reminding us that one decision can ripple through generations.

If Scott's journey moves you, consider registering as a donor. Learn more about organ, eye and tissue donation and sign up to be a donor hero like Shawn at www.passlifeon.org. We encourage you to also visit Shawn's Heroes For Life. 💙💚

Thank you 13 WHAM ABC for this great story!

This week marks a milestone for 13WHAM meteorologist Scott Hetsko.

09/15/2025

Engaging with the community and getting the facts out about organ, eye and tissue donation is more important than ever. Some of our incredible volunteers have been busy organizing our participation in big events to do just that.

Over the past few weekends, we've had the honor of taking part in Senator Jeremy Cooney's End of Summer BBQ, the National Kidney Foundation - Upstate and Western NY's Kidney Walk and the India Community Center of Rochester, NY's India Fest. We can't thank these leaders and organizations enough for welcoming the Donate Life table at their gatherings.

We're especially grateful to volunteers Larry Billings, Richard and Christine Perez, Aimee Vollmer and Jody Ferrara for their hard work at these events and dedication to this mission. All of these wonderful people have a deeply personal connection to organ and tissue donation - making their conversations with the public so inspiring.

Thank you all!
Learn the facts about donation and register as an organ, eye and tissue donor at: www.passlifeon.org