LifeGift Feel Good Fridays: Because of You, Hope Lives On

LifeGift Team Member Spotlight: Chelse Buckley, Family Engagement Specialist

At LifeGift, we honor the selfless act of donation that brings hope to others and remain committed to supporting donor families every step of the way. Chelse Buckley, a LifeGift family engagement specialist, supports families and serves as a dual advocate to honor the immeasurable gift of life. She meets with families who are making end-of-life decisions for their loved ones and presents them with the opportunity for donation. Chelse also provides compassionate support as families navigate their grief journey.

With nearly two years at LifeGift, Chelse collaborates with hospital personnel and advocates for donation to happen. She works alongside bedside nurses, attending physicians and chaplains to support a family’s decisions that best fit their needs. Chelse is often paired alongside another LifeGift team member to discuss case dynamics that help in supporting families and maximizing their loved one's legacy.

Prior to LifeGift, Chelse worked in the mental health field as a crisis line counselor for the nationwide and Texas 988 crisis line. “I genuinely feel grateful for the opportunity to be a trusted resource for others in providing support in an individual's personal crisis or in a time of loss,” Chelse shares. “My background has greatly benefited my work as a family engagement specialist.”

“It's been the honor of my lifetime to support so many memorable families in their sensitive time of loss and to offer them hope,” Chelse adds. “Being a part of saving lives feels incredibly meaningful to my individual purpose. The core of what we do starts with understanding the donor family and connecting their loved one’s story to find meaning in the midst of tragedy.”

Men’s Health Awareness Month

June is Men’s Health Month. This national observance spreads awareness about men’s health and wellness at all stages of their lives. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, men die an average of five years earlier than women with heart disease as one of the leading causes of early death. When men make better lifestyle choices, they not only can live longer, healthier and higher-quality lives, they can also provide someone waiting for an organ transplant a second chance at life.

Celebrate Men’s Health Month by encouraging all men to stay healthy and to register as organ, eye and tissue donors. Already a donor? Please share this information with your friends, family and other colleagues.

Help the men you know live healthier, happier lives!

Longtime Friend Provides Coach with a New Life

After being diagnosed with stage four cirrhosis caused by non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Steve Baldwin learned he would need a liver transplant. Due to his size and blood type, doctors told him he was unlikely to receive a deceased donor organ in time, making a living donor his best chance. Baldwin and his wife shared his story with friends, prompting dozens of people to ask about becoming a donor. One of those individuals was Tyler Jessup, a longtime friend from church who volunteered to donate part of his liver after learning about Baldwin’s condition. As Baldwin’s health rapidly declined, the transplant became increasingly urgent.

The transplant surgeries took place in September 2023 and were successful, though Baldwin experienced a long and difficult recovery that included complications and extended hospitalization. Jessup recovered quickly and said the experience was rewarding, inspiring him to consider becoming a kidney donor as well. Today, Baldwin’s transplanted liver is healthy, and he credits his recovery to the support of his family and friends. The shared experience also strengthened the friendship between Baldwin and Jessup, who continue to spend time together and advocate for the importance of living organ donation.

To read the entire story as featured in the Wyoming News, click here.

World Blood Donor Day

World Blood Donor Day takes place on June 14th each year. The aim is to raise global awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products for transfusion and of the critical contribution voluntary, unpaid blood donors make to national health systems. The day also provides an opportunity to call to action to governments and national health authorities to provide adequate resources and put into place systems and infrastructures to increase the collection of blood from voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors.

Safe blood and blood products and their transfusion are critical aspects of care and public health. They save millions of lives and improve the health and quality of life of many patients every day. The need for blood is universal, but access to blood for all those who need it is not. Blood shortages are particularly acute in developing countries.

Schedule Your Appointment Today

We encourage you to schedule an appointment today at your local blood bank. For more information, locate your closest donation location in Amarillo, Fort Worth, Houston and Lubbock, Texas. When making your appointment, you have the option of mentioning LifeGift, so our organization receives credit for your donation.

Help even more people by inviting family members, friends and colleagues to donate too!

Changing Lives Forever Through Volunteerism

LifeGift volunteer opportunities are a meaningful way of giving your time to help those in need. LifeGift Ambassadors of Hope (AOH) volunteers are the heart and soul of our community outreach program. Our Ambassadors share their donation and recipient transplantation stories to inspire hope in our communities. We’re proud to have nurses, physicians and other hospital team members as vital volunteers in all three of our regions!

Join the Ambassadors of Hope

The AOH volunteer program enables us to share our messages of hope in the communities we serve. Compassionate, passionate and professional, our Ambassadors share their personal stories through speaking engagements, community events and the news media. The AOH program is an outlet for recipients to share their transplant journey.

LifeGift’s volunteer program also provides healing for donor families as they navigate their loss and share how their loved ones gave others a second chance at life. In addition, the program offers healthcare professionals, students and community members an opportunity to educate others about the importance of donation within their own circles of influence.

Interested in becoming an Ambassador?

It’s simple to join the team! Register to be an AOH volunteer through our online form. You’ll then complete a new volunteer orientation, interview and background check.

If you’re interested in signing up to be an Ambassador of Hope and changing lives forever, please 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!