The Chicago-based biotech company BIOLIFE4D announced on September 9, 2019 that it has successfully 3D-bioprinted a mini human heart. The tiny heart has the same structure as a full-sized heart, and the company says it's an important milestone in the push to create an artificial heart viable for transplant.

In August 2019, Organ Transplant Support, Inc. was awarded a $500 grant from 4Imprint, through their One-to-One Charitable Contribution Program. 4imprint is a national promotional company, and they award grants of $500 in promotional items to 501c3 non-profit organizations.

Between October 15 – December 7 you can make any changes to your Medicare coverage. Do your homework! If you don’t have any changes, you don’t do anything.

Dr. Thomas Starzl performed the first liver transplant in 1963. Lack of immunosuppressant drugs limited his success. His first successful transplant came 4 years later.

Pete Cashman is a liver recipient and OTS member who at one time was a school bus driver in his suburb. He made a point to tell the kids that he received an organ transplant and that organ donation can save lives. He recently received a note from one of his high school students telling Pete what a major impact he has on his life.

As a transplant recipient, one of the hardest things to get used to are the precautions that we have to take - especially during the summer. Most transplant patients are taking one or more immunosuppressant medications, such as CellCept, Prograf, or Neoral. Any of these medications will cause the skim to become very sun sensitive. Here are few tips to follow:

More than 80 people attended the 28th Annual OTS Tree Planting Ceremony on Sunday, April 28 at Naper Settlement in Naperville. The weather did not look good for an outdoor ceremony when there was a spring snowstorm in the Chicago area the day before. But all the snow melted just in time for us to walk to the site where we dedicated a tree in honor of organ donors. The day of Sunday, April 28 turned out to be a sunny and beautiful day for the tree planting ceremony.

The Caregiver’s Guidebook by Barbara A. Stewart is your personal resource for successfully navigating life as a Caregiver. It is filled with information, lists, and a place for you to personalize your journey. This Guidebook will provide you with awareness, encouragement, comfort, and a voice, as you embrace the new you.