In this moving episode, BJ Odom sits down with Brian Pitts, whose journey through heart disease and transplant is both harrowing and inspiring. Like so many others, Brian had no idea he was living with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)—until one life-changing day at a family wedding when he suddenly went into cardiac arrest.

After being rushed to the hospital, Brian’s short-term memory was deeply affected—he found himself repeatedly asking, “Why am I here?” Doctors inserted a defibrillator to stabilize his heart, beginning a long and difficult road to recovery. Eventually, Brian received his life-saving heart transplant, and today, he embraces each day as a gift.

Now, with renewed strength and gratitude, Brian dreams of one day sailing around the world—a powerful reminder that second chances aren’t just about survival, but about living life to the fullest.

Brian Pitts links

YouTube Page @DonateLifeBoat

Heart Transplant Support on facebook

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BJ Odom’s inspiring memoir:

More Parts Than A Chicken Nugget

A Story of Survival, Second Chances, and the Family That Held Me Together

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Available in paperback & eBook on Amazon

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This week, BJ sits down with Tim Andrews, a true pioneer in the transplant world and an inspiration to anyone who believes in the power of science and second chances.

Tim made medical history as the longest-living person with a pig kidney transplant, thriving for nine incredible months before the organ was removed. His story reads like science fiction — but it’s 100% real. Now, Tim is once again waiting for a miracle: a living kidney donor.

Despite being back on dialysis, his spirit remains strong, his humor intact, and his message clear — hope and innovation can change lives.

If you or someone you know would like to see if you can help Tim, please visit the Mass General Hospital website at www.massgeneral.org for more information.

Tim’s blood type: O positive.

Let’s find Tim a kidney and keep this incredible story going.

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More Parts Than A Chicken Nugget

A story of survival, second chances, and the family that held it all together.

Grab your copy today: https://a.co/d/gNgC9jO

Available in paperback & eBook on Amazon.

If this episode moved you, help us spread the message.

Subscribe and leave a 5-star review.

Share this episode with your family and friends.

Together, we’re raising awareness, honoring donors, and celebrating new beginnings.

Thank you for being part of our life-giving community.

This week, we meet Jimmy Tolleson, a preacher from Alabama whose journey to a new heart is a powerful testimony of faith and endurance.

Jimmy’s story began at just 16 years old, when he started experiencing chest pains. Despite repeated reassurances that his heart was fine, his symptoms continued for decades—until, at age 51, doctors at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio discovered the truth. There, he underwent his first open-heart surgery, beginning a long road toward survival.

Years later, Jimmy received his life-saving heart transplant at St. Thomas West in Nashville, Tennessee. But his journey was made even more heartbreaking when his wife was diagnosed with terminal cancer—right as Jimmy was being placed on the transplant list. Balancing his own fight for life while saying goodbye to the love of his life tested his faith in unimaginable ways.

In this emotional and inspiring conversation, Jimmy shares how he found strength through faith, community, and the incredible gift of organ donation.

Email: giftoflifepodcast@gmail.com

Website: www.giftoflifepodcast.com

Facebook: Gift of Life – The Organ Transplant Podcast

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BJ Odom’s Memoir: More Parts Than a Chicken Nugget

Grab your copy on Amazon — available in paperback and eBook!

If Jimmy’s story touched your heart, please help us spread the message:

Subscribe and leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast app.

Share this episode with friends and family.

Together, we’re raising awareness, honoring donors, and celebrating new beginnings.

Thank you for being part of our life-giving community.

This week, we meet Heather McCoy, a true warrior whose story embodies courage, faith, and the incredible power of organ donation.

Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at just 10 years old, Heather faced challenges most of us can only imagine. At 20, she received her first double-lung transplant, a life-changing gift that allowed her to breathe freely again. Eight years later, when her lungs began to fail once more, she courageously went through it all over again—a second double-lung transplant.

But Heather’s journey didn’t stop there. When her kidneys began to fail, she received yet another miracle—a kidney transplant—and with it, a renewed lease on life.

Through every obstacle, Heather has remained a shining example of positivity and gratitude. Her laughter, determination, and joy for life remind us all that even the toughest battles can lead to the most beautiful victories.

This is a heartfelt, inspiring conversation you won’t want to miss—a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the life-giving power of donation.

Let’s Stay Connected:

Email: giftoflifepodcast@gmail.com

Website: www.giftoflifepodcast.com

Facebook: Gift of Life – The Organ Transplant Podcast

Listen & Share: https://lnk.to/GiftofLife

If this episode touched your heart, help us spread the message:

Subscribe and leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform.

Share this episode with family and friends.

Together, we’re raising awareness, honoring donors, and celebrating new beginnings.

Thank you for being part of our life-giving community.

This week, we welcome Jennifer Lentini, whose transplant journey began when she was just a teenager. On July 6, 1996, Jennifer received a life-saving heart transplant that gave her a second chance at life. But her story is far from over.

Today, at age 42, Jennifer continues her fight. She joined us for this episode while on dialysis, awaiting a kidney transplant—and facing the reality that she may also need a second heart transplant.

Jennifer’s story is one of resilience, love, and hope. It’s a reminder of why organ donation matters, and how the gift of life can carry someone through decades of challenges, triumphs, and the determination to keep going.

This heartfelt conversation is still in progress—because Jennifer’s journey is ongoing. Listen and learn why organ donation is not just about survival, but about living, loving, and cherishing every moment of time given.

Email: giftoflifepodcast@gmail.com

Website: www.giftoflifepodcast.com

Facebook: Gift of Life – The Organ Transplant Podcast

Listen & Share: https://lnk.to/GiftofLife

If this episode touched your heart, help us spread the message:

• Subscribe and leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform.

• Share this episode with family and friends.

  Together, we’re raising awareness, honoring donors, and celebrating new beginnings. Thank you for being part of our life-giving community.

In this inspiring and educational episode, BJ sits down with Shane Grant, who has been living with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) for nearly two decades. Over the years, Shane became her own best advocate—learning about her disease, seeking out specialists, and pushing for answers.

Her persistence and courage led her through a long and emotional journey that ultimately resulted in a life-saving heart transplant earlier this year.

This conversation offers hope and guidance for anyone affected by HCM or navigating their own transplant journey.

You’ll hear Shane’s powerful reflections on:

• What it’s really like to live with HCM for 20 years

• The importance of self-advocacy and education

• The emotional and physical challenges before and after transplant

• How her new heart has transformed her outlook on life

Whether you’re a patient, family member, or healthcare professional, this episode is filled with valuable insight and encouragement.

Email: giftoflifepodcast@gmail.com

Website: www.giftoflifepodcast.com

Facebook: Gift of Life – The Organ Transplant Podcast

Listen & Share: https://lnk.to/GiftofLife

If this episode touched your heart, help us spread the message:

Subscribe and leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform.

Share this episode with family and friends.

Together, we’re raising awareness, honoring donors, and celebrating new beginnings.

Thank you for being part of our life-giving community.

Today’s episode is extra special because we’re diving into something deeply personal—my brand-new memoir, More Parts Than a Chicken Nugget.

But this book wasn’t written alone. By my side through the process was Christina Metcalf—a gifted writer and, more importantly, someone who understands the meaning of the gift of life firsthand. Christina is a living donor, having given part of her liver to her half-sister in an incredible act of courage and love.

Together, Christina and I wove my journey into words—the surgeries, the setbacks, the resilience, and yes, even the humor that has carried me through. In this episode, Christina shares what surprised her most about my story, why she took on this project as a passion, and the bigger message we both hope readers will carry with them.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to turn a life’s worth of experiences into a memoir—or how organ donation touches not just one life but entire families—this conversation is for you.

Listen now and join us as we celebrate writing, resilience, and the gift of life.

Email: giftoflifepodcast@gmail.com

Website: www.giftoflifepodcast.com

Facebook: Gift of Life – The Organ Transplant Podcast

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If this episode touched your heart, please subscribe and leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform. Share it with family and friends—together we’re raising awareness, honoring donors, and celebrating new beginnings.

Welcome back to the Gift of Life – The Organ Transplant Podcast.

Today we’re honored to share the powerful story of Monica Douglas Davis—a wife, a mother, a licensed counselor, an author, a life coach, and a heart transplant recipient.

Monica’s journey began after the birth of her twin daughters, when she was just 42 years old. What should have been a time of pure joy quickly turned into a fight for survival. She was diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM)—a rare and often devastating form of heart failure that strikes new mothers.

Her battle ultimately led her to the ultimate gift—a life-saving heart transplant in 2024. But Monica’s story is more than survival. It’s about resilience, faith, and purpose. She has transformed her darkest chapters into a message of hope and healing, now guiding others as a counselor and life coach.

In this heartfelt conversation, Monica opens up about her struggles, her transplant journey, and the way she’s turning her second chance at life into a mission to inspire and uplift others.

LinkedIn.com/Monica-Davis-LPC-408a45290

HTTPS://Facebook.com/careservicessite

HTTPS://Amazon.com/Monica DouglasDavis

Website https://carescounseling.com

This is an episode filled with courage, perseverance, and the reminder that every heartbeat is

Let’s Stay Connected

Email: giftoflifepodcast@gmail.com

Website: www.giftoflifepodcast.com

Facebook: Gift of Life – The Organ Transplant Podcast

Listen & Share: https://lnk.to/GiftofLife

If this episode touched your heart, help us spread the message:

• Subscribe and leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform.

• Share this episode with family and friends.

Together, we’re raising awareness, honoring donors, and celebrating new beginnings. Thank you for being part of our life-giving community.