Sometimes the most extraordinary acts of love begin with the smallest prompts—a persistent advertisement, an unexpected feeling, a moment of divine nudging. In this remarkable episode of Making Sense of Faith, Adam Hamilton introduces us to a story that redefines what it means to love your neighbor as yourself. Jeff Risinger, a member of Church of the Resurrection and senior vice president of HR at the University of Kansas Health System, responded to a popup ad that kept appearing on his computer screen—an invitation to become a living liver donor. That decision would not only save the life of a complete stranger but would also demonstrate how faith translates into tangible, life-changing action. Joined by Dr. Sean Kumer, Chief Medical Officer at the University of Kansas Health System, this conversation explores the medical realities, emotional journey, and spiritual dimensions of organ donation.

The Journey Begins with an Unexpected Invitation
Jeff’s story started in the spring of 2022 with something most of us would ignore—a persistent popup advertisement. While searching for information about heel pain, an ad from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center kept appearing: “Consider being a living liver donor.” After ignoring it several times, Jeff finally felt compelled to click and learn more. What followed was one of the most thorough medical evaluations he’d ever experienced—three days of testing including blood work, MRIs, CT scans, and meetings with an entire medical team. The process is intentionally rigorous because medical professionals must ensure donors face no unnecessary risk, honoring the principle of “first, do no harm.”

A Christmas Eve Miracle Connects Two Families
Several months after completing his evaluation, Jeff received a phone call on Christmas Eve 2023 that would change everything. He had been matched with a man—also named Jeff—whose condition was so serious he had only six months to live. The story became even more remarkable when Jeff learned that his recipient’s son, Josh, had wanted to donate to his father but wasn’t a match. Instead, Josh donated his liver to another stranger in need, while Jeff Risinger was matched with Josh’s father. Both surgeries happened on January 13, 2023. The “coincidences” continued to stack up: both donors and recipient shared the name Jeff, both had sons named Joshua who were the same age. As Jeff reflects, “Had I not been anonymous, these are the people I would’ve picked. And that’s how you know God was in that process.”

The Medical Reality: How Living Donation Actually Works
Dr. Kumer provides crucial insight into the donation process, explaining that the liver is an extraordinary organ capable of regeneration. When someone donates the right lobe of their liver (typically about 55-60% of the total liver mass), the remaining portion grows back to approximately 80-90% of its original size within just four to five weeks. The surgery itself takes about five to six hours for the donor, followed by recovery that typically involves five days in the hospital and about three weeks until normal energy returns. Kidney donation is less complex—usually done laparoscopically, taking about two hours, with a hospital stay of just a couple days.

Faith Expressed Through Radical Generosity
Throughout the conversation, Jeff’s deep Christian faith emerges as the foundation for his decision. Having grown up in the church and connecting with Adam’s books before even moving to Kansas City, Jeff describes Resurrection as a place where he “couldn’t wait for Sunday to get here.” His decision to donate wasn’t just medical altruism—it was faith in action. As Adam observes, Jeff embodied the parable of the Good Samaritan, laying down part of himself to help someone in need. Jeff humbly describes seeing God not in visible ways but through the care of his wife Dee, the brilliance of the surgeons, the compassion of the medical team, and the beauty of the Hole family.

The Desperate Need and Your Opportunity to Help
The statistics Dr. Kumer shares are sobering: over 100,000 people are currently waiting for organ transplants in the United States, but only about 48,000 to 50,000 transplants happen annually. Thirteen people die every day waiting for an organ. Living donation makes a dramatic difference—organs from living donors function better and last longer than those from deceased donors. For those considering living donation, the process begins with a phone call to a transplant center. At the University of Kansas Health System, that number is (913) 588-6183.

This episode challenges us to reconsider what “everyday miracles” really means. Jeff’s story reveals that miracles aren’t always supernatural interventions—sometimes they’re ordinary people responding to unexpected prompts with extraordinary generosity. Whether you’re considering becoming a living donor, registering as an organ donor in the event of your death, or simply contemplating what selfless love looks like in practice, this conversation offers both inspiration and practical guidance.