TOLEDO, Ohio - The Toledo Rockets men's basketball team, in partnership with Life Connection of Ohio and Community Tissue Services, is encouraging Rocket fans to "Get on the Ball" this season and register as organ, eye and tissue donors at lifeconnection.org.
 
"Life Connection of Ohio and Community Tissue Services are very grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Coach Kowalczyk and the University of Toledo men's basketball team in such a unique way this season," said Kara Steele, Life Connection of Ohio's Director of Community Services. "The goal of our partnership is to raise awareness about the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation. There are countless people touched by donation in our community, and we look forward to honoring those who gave the gift of life and celebrating with those who received a second chance at life throughout the season. We encourage everyone to get on the ball and register as an organ, eye and tissue donor at lifeconnection.org."
 
Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk and the Rockets have hosted a "Rockets For Life" game in each of the past four seasons to promote awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation. Kowalczyk has been touched personally by organ donation. One of his best friends, Trey Schwab, received 12 additional years of life because of a double lung transplant. Trey, who coached at the college, CBA and NBA levels, passed away in 2016 waiting for another transplant.
 
"I think it's vital that we spread the word for people to become organ donors," Kowalczyk said. "I certainly am a donor, and my family and all our players are as well."
 
During the final 10 home games of the season, the Rockets will honor the following organizations and individuals:
 
Jan. 8 – "WE PLAY FOR - Life Connection of Ohio and Community Tissue Services"
Life Connection of Ohio is the non-profit organization that promotes and facilitates organ donation in northwest and west central Ohio, and Community Tissue Services is the non-profit organization that promotes and facilitates tissue donation in northwest Ohio and beyond. Every day, Life Connection of Ohio and Community Tissue Services staff work tirelessly to honor generous donors and their families and save and heal lives through transplantation. Even in the midst of a pandemic, Life Connection of Ohio and Community Tissue Services' clinical staff have continued working on the front lines as they provide comfort for those who have lost loved ones and ensure lives continue to be saved and healed through organ, eye and tissue donation.
 
Jan. 12 – "WE PLAY FOR - Michael Keith Fultz"
Michael Keith Fultz enjoyed riding his bike, taking long walks, fishing, playing cards, volunteering at animal shelters and going on cruises. He was always quick to share a smile or start a conversation, and he loved people. Michael Keith served as a police officer for 25 years, and even in his death on April 15, 2016, he still found a way to serve others through organ, eye and tissue donation. Michael Keith's son, Kevin, who is a senior at the University of Toledo, said "It's kind of hard to explain how one person can save so many lives just from a selfless act, but it makes it easier in a tragedy to find beauty in that."
 
Jan. 19 – "WE PLAY FOR - Rick Brown"
Rick Brown's 20-year battle with diabetes had taken a toll on his kidneys and pancreas. He endured dialysis for over a year and a half, and he needed a kidney/pancreas transplant. On the afternoon of May 19, 2013, Rick was walking into his house carrying his wife's birthday cake for the next day, and he got a phone call that would change his life forever. He was going to receive a transplant. On May 20, 2013, he received a life-saving kidney/pancreas transplant. It was the best birthday present his wife ever received! Rick immediately noticed a difference in the way he felt, and he hasn't looked back – he returned to work and leads a healthy, active life. Rick was filled with energy, his vision was restored and his diabetic neuropathy disappeared. He has met some of his donor's family, including his donor's sister, whom he texts daily. Rick remembers registering to be an organ, eye and tissue donor years ago, never thinking he'd be on the receiving end, but he is grateful for his second chance at life.
 
Jan. 23 – "WE PLAY FOR - Tyler Palmer"
Tyler Palmer was quiet and quirky, and he was always making people laugh. He was generous and kind, and he loved his family and friends. Sadly, 14-year-old Tyler passed away on May 21, 2008. Tyler always wanted to be a superhero, and on that day, he was. He saved seven lives through organ donation and healed many more through tissue and cornea donation. Tyler's parents, Dwayne and Lori, are extremely proud that their son's generosity saved and healed so many, and that they prevented other families from losing loved ones.
 
Feb. 2 – "WE PLAY FOR - Bruce Joseph"
Bruce Joseph, an athlete who led the epitome of an active life, began to experience severe pain. What was once simple – like carrying his son up the stairs – became increasingly difficult, and he worried that he was going to miss out on his children's lives. Though he always supported organ, eye and tissue donation, he never thought he'd be on the receiving end, but that became a reality when Bruce received two tissue transplants in 2005 and 2006. Those transplants allowed him to resume his active lifestyle, and he did not have to hold back with any activities because of debilitating pain. "My donor gave me back my quality of life," Bruce said. "To be able to do the things that I am able to do because of their generous gift is priceless. I can do the things I want to do with my kids, and that's huge."
 
Feb. 13 – "WE PLAY FOR - Emily Jackson"
Emily Jackson was born with cystic fibrosis, a genetic lung disease, and she needed a double lung transplant. Despite her condition, Emily always wore a smile, and she was determined to help others by becoming a registered nurse. In 2018, Emily graduated with honors in an accelerated course load from the University of Toledo's College of Nursing. While at the University of Toledo, Emily was a member of Delta Phi Epsilon and the Student Nurses Association, serving terms as president and fundraising chair. She achieved her dream of becoming a registered nurse, but sadly, on June 2, 2019, 22-year-old Emily died waiting for a double lung transplant. Stories like Emily's are why the Green Chair is in existence. The tagline is "Don't let another chair go empty" because encouraging more people to register as organ, eye and tissue donors means there will be fewer empty chairs.
 
Feb. 16 – "WE PLAY FOR - Mary Louise Riffe"
Mary Louise Riffe was a caregiver, and she enjoyed bunco, baseball, cookouts and vacations with her family. Sadly, Mary Louise died on February 9, 2018. Her daughter, Sandy, who works as a post-transplant coordinator at the University of Toledo Medical Center, never thought that her 79-year-old mother would be able to be a tissue donor. She was happy to learn that her mother could save and heal lives through the gift of tissue donation, and she is grateful that Mary Louise continues to give back and makes a difference in the lives of others.
 
Feb. 23 – "WE PLAY FOR - Kandy Takas"
Kandy Takas' kidney disease caused her kidneys to shut down. She endured dialysis every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for four hours each time. After one year, three months and six days on dialysis, Kandy received a life-saving kidney transplant at the University of Toledo Medical Center on October 9, 2000 – the day before her 34th birthday. She said it is the best birthday present she has ever received! The only thing Kandy knows about her donor is that he was a generous man from Maryland. She wrote a letter to her donor family, which she said is the hardest letter she has ever written. "The biggest thing you're saying is 'thank you', but how do you thank someone for giving you your life back?" Kandy said. Kandy's gift of life has meant 20 more years with her son, John, and for that, she is forever grateful.
 
Feb. 27 – "WE PLAY FOR - Donovon Jacobs"
Donovon Jacobs was all about family. The 27-year-old with the tough exterior was a softie when it came to his niece and nephews. His days were filled reading, dancing, potty-training, hugging and protecting those little ones. He enjoyed playing basketball, cooking perfect pancakes, watching Seinfeld and making people laugh. Sadly, on June 3, 2010, Donovon passed away. But his loving, giving spirit continued as he saved four lives through organ donation. His mom, Andrea, who works at the University of Toledo Medical Center, met one of Donovon's kidney recipients, and she was in awe that he was alive and standing before her all because of her son. "Organ donation was a way for me to hold on and not have to completely let go of my son," Andrea said. "Donovon achieved something greater than what I did in giving him life, and that makes me feel good." Knowing that Donovon's last act was giving the gift of life through organ donation is something that brings Andrea comfort.
 
March 5 – "WE PLAY FOR - Trey Schwab"
The biggest reason Coach Tod Kowalczyk is an advocate for organ, eye and tissue donation is because he witnessed the power of transplantation through his best friend, Trey Schwab. Trey coached basketball for 23 seasons, including nine seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA and four seasons with the men's basketball team at Marquette University, where he and Coach Kowalczyk served as assistant coaches. Shortly after starting at Marquette, Trey was diagnosed with a genetic lung disease called IPF (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis). He was hooked up to oxygen 24/7 and needed a double lung transplant. He continued to coach at Marquette until the night he received "the call" – Trey received a double lung transplant on February 16, 2004. He resumed his coaching duties at Marquette in the fall of 2004, and then he made a career move in 2005 when he began his journey as outreach coordinator for the University of Wisconsin Organ and Tissue Donation Program. "My transplant has given me more birthdays, Thanksgivings, Christmases and New Years to spend with my family," Trey said in 2014. "It has allowed me to see my niece graduate from high school and my step-daughter graduate from college. Most importantly, I'm able to give back every day and provide hope to those people who are currently waiting and helping them to get the life-saving transplants that they need." Sadly, Trey passed away on March 20, 2016, but his double lung transplant gifted him with 12 additional years of life. Trey lived every day in honor of his donor, Stephen, who saved five lives through organ donation, restored sight in two people through cornea donation, and healed 90 lives through tissue donation.
 
About Life Connection of Ohio and Community Tissue Services:

• Life Connection of Ohio is the non-profit organization that promotes and facilitates organ donation in northwest and west central Ohio. For more information about Life Connection of Ohio, visit lifeconnection.org.
• Community Tissue Services is the non-profit organization that promotes and facilitates tissue donation in northwest Ohio and beyond. For more information about Community Tissue Services, visit 125lives.org.