There are many issues associated with organ donation and transplantation. These issues span from political to financial, from spiritual to moral. Because healthy organs continue to be buried every day and the need for those organs is enormous, these issues have to be addressed. Gifted: The Docuseries will tell the complete and accurate stories of both tragedy and victory to encourage a nationwide social discussion.
Executive Producer
Robert is a novelist, screenwriter and critical care nurse who has dedicated most of his career to the field of organ and tissue donation and transplantation. He authored the book, Gifted, and is a keynote speaker and subject matter expert on the topic of organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
Executive Producer
Ted is an award-winning writer and filmmaker who has produced seven films that earned 21 regional Emmys, including Best Documentary, as well as countless national awards for journalism and filmmaking. He holds a BA from Princeton University and a Masters from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
Producer
Josh is an Emmy-winning video producer with 20 years of experience creating compelling corporate films, television commercials and online marketing videos for businesses and causes. He holds a BA in Film and Video from Columbia College Chicago and an MA in Communication from University of Illinois. Josh is also an FAA commercially licensed drone pilot.
Production Team
Chris is an Emmy-winning video producer. His production experience includes corporate film, television commercials, online marketing videos and a number of independent projects and films. He holds a BA in Visual Communication from the University of Illinois and is an FAA commercially licensed drone pilot.
Production Team
Payton is a graduate of The Los Angeles Film School where she earned a BS in Digital Filmmaking (with honors). Her work has earned two Silver Telly Awards, one Gold Telly Award, one Gold Communicator Award, one Regional Emmy® nomination, and one Regional Emmy® Award since joining Storyteller in 2019.
We’re proud to partner with The Maddog Strong Foundation for our fundraising efforts in support of Gifted–The Docuseries. The Maddog Strong Foundation is a public 501(c)(3)nonprofit organization created in honor of Maddie “Maddog” Grobmeier who passed away unexpectedly from an asthma attack the day after her 18th birthday. Maddie inspired many by donating her organs and tissues so that others could live on to do amazing things for the world.
Episode One of GIFTED: The Docuseries follows the inspirational story of Donor Hero, Heather Miller. Just weeks away from graduating from West Virginia University to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse, Heather’s family faced the ultimate decision. On life support following a tragic car crash, Heather would want her last act on Earth to be helping others. Honoring her legacy, the Miller Family donated her organs so four people could live on through the miracle of transplantation.
Episode One follows the Miller Family’s journey through grief and healing as they honor Heather by not only bringing awareness to the issue of organ and tissue donation, but by raising money to fund nearly 200 Nursing Scholarships. Viewers will hear from the first responders and healthcare professionals who not only cared for Heather in her final days, but have found inspiration in the Miller Family’s mission to honor Heather’s legacy.
Viewers will also learn the facts about donation and transplantation, not only through the professionals dedicated to this life-saving work, but from one of Heather’s recipients who shares his gratitude for Heather, and the Miller Family’s, selfless act in their darkest hour.
Episode One of GIFTED: The Docuseries will inspire you as you witness the strength of the Miller Family who found purpose through their pain!
As the parents of an organ donor, we understand first-hand the lasting impact donation makes but most people don’t. That’s why Gifted-The Docuseries is so incredibly important. It will bring a national audience the experience and show the lifesaving impact donation makes on a grand scale.
The purpose of this whole project, to get the word out for people to understand and to talk to their families, that would be the single most important thing that could happen.
As a donor mom, I have watched and read many stories about transplant recipients. There are very few that touch on the organ donor. Gifted-The Docuseries encompasses ALL aspects of donation. This would have been very beneficial at the time of my daughter's death. There were so many unanswered questions. Gifted-The Docuseries sparks curiosity about the process of organ donation. When curiosity is sparked, deep cycles of learning can be achieved. Once a person has learned, I feel confident that this series will empower them to say “yes” to donation.
The Maddog Strong Foundation, a public 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, accepts all donations on behalf of Gifted Productions.
