Gift of Life Celebrated at Warriors’ African American Heritage Night

During African American Heritage Night at Chase Center, seven Stanford Medicine Children’s Health transplant patients had the honor to stand next to their favorite Golden State Warriors’ players during the National Anthem. The “Anthem Buddies” were being celebrated as they all went through or are going through a transplant journey.

“It’s an honor for us to represent Stanford Children’s at such a great event,” said Elena Munoz, parent of Joseph Sanchez-Munoz who received three different transplants.

The patients recognized were:

Jada Crawford, 9: Waiting for a kidney

Marie Cobb, 13: Liver Transplant

Aaliyah Granados, 15: Kidney Transplant

Jaden Grantham, 10: Waiting for a kidney

Solomon Koning, 10: Liver Transplant

Joseph Sanchez-Munoz, 19: Kidney, Liver, and Heart Transplant

Mesihas Tillmon, 14: Waiting for a kidney

The aim was to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation and how an increased diversity in the donor population can lead to increased access to transplantation.

“I had a kidney transplant when I was 26 years old at Stanford Medicine and now, my 9-year-old daughter Jada needs one,” said Blake Crawford. “She has been waiting for a kidney for about a year. So transplant is really personal for me and my family.”

According to Donate Life, more than 1,900 pediatric patients are waiting for a variety of organs – 25 percent of them are under the age of five. Crawford encourages people to learn more. “Organ donation saves lives,” he added.