Travis' Story

Travis smiles for a photo outside

My son  Travis passed away on April 2, 2016, due to a car accident during one of Michigan's weird weather storms of snow, sleet, rain, and wind. My son became a blood donor in his Junior year of High School. He became a tissue/organ donor the day he received his driver's license at the age of 16.

Travis saved lives through his countless blood donations from the age of 17-24. Travis saved lives through his tissue/organ donations at the age of 24. Gift of Life Michigan and Eversight sent our family letters of gratitude for the unselfish decision of giving from Travis. Twenty-eight people from the age range of 14 to 72 have received Travis' tissue/organ donations.

Our family uses the statement, "Travis lives through others" anytime people ask how long Travis has been gone. Travis is a hero. Thank you for bringing awareness to the need for blood, tissue/organ, and marrow donations.

-Raquel Martinez-Ybarra
Featured News & Stories Health Lab Podcast in brackets with a background with a dark blue translucent layers over cells
Health Lab Podcast
Keeping kids safe in poor air quality conditions
As climate change continues, the growing number and intensity of wildfires creates more air pollution, leading to poor air quality being a more common occurrence in many areas. Most parents are concerned about children's exposure to unhealthy air quality, but may not know the steps to take to help keep kids safe during those conditions. Read the full article on the Health Lab website, and click here for the episode transcript.
 bladder full and then drained moving graphic
Health Lab
Recurrent UTIs? A gentamicin bladder instillation may be the answer
Recurrent UTIs can be a relentless battle for some, and also dangerous given how many antibiotics can be used. A leading expert on gentamicin bladder instillations discusses the lesser-known treatment that can get these infections under control.
News Release
Eight U-M researchers win PECASE awards
Three U-M medical researchers, and five others from the U-M faculty, have received one of the nation's top honors for scientists and engineers, as announced by the White House.
 woman walking on treadmill picking intensity on a chart that reads from easier to harder
Health Lab
Higher costs limit attendance for life changing cardiac rehab
Despite the success cardiac rehabilitation has shown at reducing heart-related deaths and hospital readmissions, higher out-of-pocket costs may prevent patients from participating in the program, a University of Michigan study suggests. 
 Photo of first medical building
News Release
“An example worthy of imitation”: U-M Medical School marks 175th anniversary
A yearlong celebration of the 175th anniversary of the opening of the U-M Medical School will highlight and examine aspects of the history of U-M’s entire academic medical center
Health Lab
8 facts about addiction and recovery
Michigan Medicine mental health experts shares facts and information about addiction and treatment options available.