Deborah Meyers, M.D., is a cardiologist and the section head of heart failure and transplant cardiology in the OHSU School of Medicine. (OHSU/Christine Torres Hicks)

Vancouver resident Sharol Lucey has made it her mission to live life to the fullest and help others after receiving a donor heart 26 years ago. (OHSU/Christine Torres Hicks)

Vancouver resident Sharol Lucey has made it her mission to live life to the fullest and help others after receiving a donor heart 26 years ago. (OHSU/Christine Torres Hicks)

Sharol Lucey and her husband, Mike, like to spend time with family and travel as often as possible. (Courtesy of the Luceys)

Sharol Lucey and her husband, Mike, like to spend time with family and travel as often as possible. (Courtesy of the Luceys)

Sharol Lucey and the mother of her heart donor, Marlene Klopft, are best of friends after having met two decades ago. (OHSU/Christine Torres Hicks)

Sharol Lucey and Marlene Klopft often attend speaking events to help promote the importance of organ donations. They have been featured together in an organ donation promotional calendar. (Courtesy of Sharol Lucey)

Sharol Lucey and her husband, Mike, like to spend time with family and travel as often as possible. Sharol Lucey and Marlene Klopft often attend speaking events to help promote the importance of organ donations. They have been featured together in an organ donation promotional calendar. (OHSU/Christine Torres Hicks)

Jessica Warren, 31, center, was 25 weeks pregnant when imaging showed she had an aortic dissection, or a tear in the aorta artery at the top of the heart, and she was transported from Salem via Life Flight to OHSU for care. Here with Castigliano Bhamidipati, D.O., Ph.D., M.Sc. (OHSU/Christine Torres Hicks)