LifeSource

Each year, we are invited to present at the Minnesota Deputy Registrar's Association Annual Meeting. It was held last Friday and we were joined by Sonja Dalbey, who had the opportunity to share how organ donation has changed her life and express her gratitude for everyone who helped make it happen.

Motor Vehicle Partners play a vital role in saving lives every day. Did you know that over 90% of people register to become a donor at the DMV? This is one of the first steps in making donation happen and we couldn't do this work without them.

Thank you to all of our motor vehicle partners for the work you do and for all of the lives you have impacted.

** can't forget to mention the amazing shoes Sonja wore

These days, it’s hard to slow Lincoln Wahlers down. Watching Lincoln race across a field or cheer for his favorite team, you would never know that five years ago doctors weren’t sure he would survive.

Lincoln’s medical journey began almost as soon as he entered the world.

Initially, doctors discovered he had congenital heart disease. While his family focused on his heart, another concern emerged. His liver wasn’t functioning normally.

What followed was months of uncertainty.

“We had a very rare story,” Natalie, Lincoln’s mom recalls. “He was diagnosed, misdiagnosed, diagnosed again, misdiagnosed.”

Doctors ultimately believed Lincoln had a rare, slow-progressing form of biliary atresia. As his family searched for answers, they navigated feeding tubes, concerns about weight gain and the constant uncertainty that came with caring for a medically fragile infant.

Yet through it all, Lincoln remained remarkably happy.

“We have pictures of him smiling in the hospital 24/7,” Natalie says.

Looking back, Natalie remembers spending much of Lincoln’s first year of life inside hospital walls. The family learned the rhythms of hospital life — the overnight checks, the constant stream of lab results, the uncertainty that greeted each new day.

Before his transplant, he underwent surgery to correct his congenital heart condition and was able to go home briefly after surgery — just 24 hours — before complications sent him back to the hospital, where he would remain until transplant.

His health deteriorated quickly until November 5, 2021, when he finally received the transplant.

Lincoln had always been happy, but suddenly there was a new energy. The yellow color caused by liver disease began fading from his skin. His appetite improved. He became more active. For the first time, his family could see what healthy looked like.

This is a story you won't want to miss - check it out on our blog! https://www.life-source.org/latest/a-liver-transplant-gave-lincoln-the-chance-to-be-a-kid/

Last month was full of events! From National Night Out and community health fairs to the Great Minnesota Get Together – we had countless meaningful conversations and the opportunity to share education about organ donation with people from our local communities. Here are some to highlight!

Brooklyn Center Community Health Fair
Unity in the Community
MNPOC PRIDE Fest
You Matter Back to School
National Night Out at Little Earth
The Festival of Fathers and Families
Pillsbury United Community Health Fair
3rd Annual Brain Health event
Hubbard Broadcasting Day at the Minnesota State Fair

We invite you to register for our upcoming Donor Family Workshop! Relax, Reflect, Renew: A Wellness Experience for Donor Families.

When: Saturday, September 26, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: LifeSource Headquarters - 2225 West River Road N., Minneapolis

Throughout the day, participants will enjoy a variety of restorative wellness experiences, including:

Mandala Blanket Blessing

Restorative Movement and Meditation

Plant and Essential Oil DIY Station

Reflection Activity

To preserve the relaxing, restorative nature of this experience, this workshop is for adults only. Space is limited, so we ask that each donor's family register no more than four participants.

Get all of the details and register here by September 18th: https://www.life-source.org/.../donor-family-workshop.../

Registration is still open for the Thomas A Costello Legacy Foundation 5th Annual Live with Passion 5k run/walk! Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 3rd, at Pioneer Park in Chaska. You can expect a day full of fun, community, remembrance and celebration of Thomas’ legacy.

Learn more about Thomas and the beautiful gift he left behind through organ donation https://www.life-source.org/latest/a-sons-mantra-rings-true-when-fulfilling-his-decision-to-be-a-donor/

Jacki Anderson and her family were invited to a Banana Ball game in Minneapolis in August where they had the opportunity to meet Jordan Brewer, who received tissue from their son, Ben, who passed away in 2020.

“He would be so proud,” Jacki explained. “Baseball was his favorite sport.”

Jordan is just as thankful for his gift. “I thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Jordan stated. “ I will carry this gift with me for the rest of my life. He is going to walk with me.”

Jacki encourages everyone to consider registering as a donor at the DMV or online at Life-Source.org to save and improve lives like Ben did.

Thank you Stevens County Times for this heartfelt article! Catch the full story here - https://stevenscountytimes.com/donor-and-recipient-walking-through-life-together/

Donor and recipient - Walking through life together - Stevens County Times When a loved one leaves us, memories become our greatest inheritance. Photos and keepsakes offer a glimpse of the past, but our memories keep their presence