IOPO®: Indiana Organ Procurement Organization, Inc.

Donation Stories

Profiles of recipients of the gift of life and the donors who saved them.

Dave Bertorello Story Photo

Dave Bertorello

I’m truly blessed.

David Bertorello literally got his second wind with a double lung transplant on July 10, 2000. He was 33. His recuperation took most of a year but he soon set out to accomplish goals he could only dream of in the seven previous years. After surgery he could once again breathe on his own and gradually began conditioning himself to walk in a half marathon. It has become an annual spring ritual for David to walk in the Indianapolis Mini Marathon. He’s been participating since May 2002. He’s also an avid golfer.

David took another leap of faith by starting his own business after his transplant. He’s a mortgage broker and certified public accountant. While having new lungs gives him the freedom to breathe and really live again, he says working for himself gives him the additional freedom of a flexible schedule necessary to effectively help more people through his volunteer activities with youth organizations and IOPO.

"Transplants work; they save lives," explained David. "I’m truly blessed that someone believed in organ donation."