LifeGift Team Member Spotlight: Sydney Deese, Organ Placement Specialist

LifeGift is honored to carry out the profound decision of individuals in our community to save lives through organ, eye and tissue donation. LifeGift organ placement specialist Sydney Deese allocates organs from donors for transplantation as well as for research and education. She assists with incoming vented referral calls as well as other inquiries. Sydney ensures patient safety through a comprehensive review and verification prior to the donation allocation phase.

A LifeGift team member for nearly four years, Sydney collaborates with transplant surgeons and transplant coordinators and LifeGift colleagues. “I work closely with transplant centers, hospital staff and LifeGift teams to ensure clear communication and coordination throughout the process. My role is to help meet each team’s needs, facilitate timely placement and support a smooth, respectful donation process for everyone involved,” says Sydney.

Prior to joining LifeGift, Sydney worked as a Public Health Educator in the Immunization Bureau at the Houston Health Department. In this role she provided community education on vaccines across the lifespan, trained providers on proper vaccine storage and helped plan vaccination clinics in underserved areas. “I was drawn to organ donation through my background in public health. I believe it’s an important public health issue that deserves more awareness, positivity and equity in access and outcomes.”

Sydney adds that working at LifeGift has provided her with a more expansive outlook on life. “Working at LifeGift has given me a deeper sense of purpose and perspective. It’s reinforced the importance of compassion, teamwork and the real difference our work has on saving and improving lives.”

Stronger Together: Hospital Partnerships That Help Legacies Live On

LifeGift’s service areas in Amarillo, Fort Worth, Houston and Lubbock celebrated the selfless individuals who gave the gift of life through organ, eye and tissue donation. These events also honored donor families and the dedicated professionals who support the transplant community.

A heartfelt thank-you to our hospital and transplant center partners for helping Legacies Live on During April’s Donate Life Month!

Click below to view the photo gallery from our National Donate Life Month celebrations.

Happy National Nurses Week: May 6 - 12

National Nurses Week is celebrated annually from May 6–12, ending on Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Nurses play a vital role in transplant care and the healthcare system at large.

Donate Life America (DLA) and the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) honor nurses with dedicated campaigns during this time. Nurses support patients through every stage of life, offering care in their most vulnerable moments.



To our hospital and transplant center nurse partners, thank you for the compassion, expertise and dedication you bring to every patient and family you serve. Your commitment to excellence in donation and transplantation makes a difference, and we’re grateful for the vital role you play in saving and healing lives.

2026 Transplant Games of America: Countdown

Every two years, the Transplant Games of America brings together thousands of transplant recipients, living donors, donor families, individuals on the waiting list, caregivers, transplant professionals and supporters for the world’s largest celebration of life. The 2026 Donate Life Transplant Games will be held June 18th - June 23rd, in Denver, Colo.

During this week, more than 40 state teams and several international teams, made up of transplant recipients and living donors, compete in 20 athletic and recreational competitions. In addition, there are more than 60 special events held throughout the Transplant Games for all attendees to enjoy.

On March 13th, LifeGift had the great privilege of hosting a dinner and flag signing event for the participants from Team Texas competing in the upcoming Transplant Games of America. The event was held to get the team pumped up about the Games and raise awareness about the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation.

“This event is so important because it brings the team together and allows the veterans to share their games experience with the new members,” says Amy Frackowiak, Team Texas Manager. “The Transplant Games provide recipients the opportunity to show that organ donation is successful and allows them to honor their families.”

For more information, click here.

LifeGift Event Sponsorship Opportunities

Help us make LifeGift's 2026 events a success! To view sponsorship opportunities for

all three upcoming events, click here.

LifeGift is proud to collaborate with our hospital and transplant center partners to advance organ, eye and tissue donation, bringing hope to the communities we serve in Amarillo, Fort Worth, Houston and Lubbock. Please email us at communications@lifegift.org with any questions or support needs!

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