\n\t\t\t\t\t\tValentine\u2019s Day is National Donor Day. It’s a time to honor organ donors and the families who say yes in the midst of loss.Kevin Molchan is a retired U.S. mail carrier. For 17 years, the retired Pittsburgh-area postal worker delivered more than envelopes. \u201cI loved the people, especially the elderly. They weren’t customers. They were friends. To this day, I still stay in touch with many of them,\u201d Molchan said.His wife, Ida, remembers how closely he watched out for the people he served.\u201cHe actually did save one of his customers who had fallen in the bathtub. He saw the mail stacking up, so he called and got him help, got the police to come and got him help,\u201d Ida Molchan said.After retiring at 62, Kevin and Ida were enjoying life. \u201cWe were living the dream, the golden years, as they call them,\u201d he said.Then in 2023, his health took a turn.\u201cThe shortness of breath. Swelling of the ankles. I realized it was a cardiac issue, so I had him see a cardiologist, and the diagnosis was AL amyloidosis,\u201d Ida said.Treatment followed, and so did dialysis. Then came the call: a heart and kidney had become available. On May 23, 2025, Kevin had a successful kidney and heart transplant at Allegheny General Hospital.\u201cThat\u2019s when it dawned on me that I have a new heart, new kidney. Someone gave me the gift of life,\u201d he said. Kevin had been an organ donor for years, but he said he didn\u2019t truly understand what that meant until he became the person waiting.Now recovering, he says he\u2019s looking ahead — back to the life he loves and the milestones he doesn\u2019t want to miss.”My goal is, come spring, I want to swing a golf club,\u201d he said.There\u2019s another reason he\u2019s determined to keep moving forward: a grandchild who arrived just months ago. \u201cWhat a blessing it is that in August, we received our first grandchild, and my daughter named it after me. So I have to be there,\u201d he said.This week, in advance of National Donor Day, Kevin brought his gratitude to the Center for Organ Recovery & Education headquarters in Pittsburgh. Wearing his mail carrier outfit, he went room to room delivering Valentine\u2019s cards made by students at nearby Dorseyville Middle School, handing them to donor families and staff, many of whom have personal ties to donation.National Donor Day is a reminder that love doesn\u2019t end with loss and that a single decision can give someone else a second chance at life.More than 100,000 people nationwide are still waiting for a life-saving transplant. To learn more or to register as an organ donor, visit registerme.org\/campaign\/wtae\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tPITTSBURGH \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Valentine\u2019s Day is National Donor Day. It’s a time to honor organ donors and the families who say yes in the midst of loss.<\/p>\n
Kevin Molchan is a retired U.S. mail carrier. For 17 years, the retired Pittsburgh-area postal worker delivered more than envelopes. <\/p>\n
\u201cI loved the people, especially the elderly. They weren’t customers. They were friends. To this day, I still stay in touch with many of them,\u201d Molchan said.<\/p>\n
His wife, Ida, remembers how closely he watched out for the people he served.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe actually did save one of his customers who had fallen in the bathtub. He saw the mail stacking up, so he called and got him help, got the police to come and got him help,\u201d Ida Molchan said.<\/p>\n
After retiring at 62, Kevin and Ida were enjoying life. \u201cWe were living the dream, the golden years, as they call them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Then in 2023, his health took a turn.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe shortness of breath. Swelling of the ankles. I realized it was a cardiac issue, so I had him see a cardiologist, and the diagnosis was AL amyloidosis,\u201d Ida said.<\/p>\n
Treatment followed, and so did dialysis. Then came the call: a heart and kidney had become available. <\/p>\n
On May 23, 2025, Kevin had a successful kidney and heart transplant at Allegheny General Hospital.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s when it dawned on me that I have a new heart, new kidney. Someone gave me the gift of life,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Kevin had been an organ donor for years, but he said he didn\u2019t truly understand what that meant until he became the person waiting.<\/p>\n
Now recovering, he says he\u2019s looking ahead — back to the life he loves and the milestones he doesn\u2019t want to miss.<\/p>\n
“My goal is, come spring, I want to swing a golf club,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s another reason he\u2019s determined to keep moving forward: a grandchild who arrived just months ago. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat a blessing it is that in August, we received our first grandchild, and my daughter named it after me. So I have to be there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
This week, in advance of National Donor Day, Kevin brought his gratitude to the Center for Organ Recovery & Education headquarters in Pittsburgh. <\/p>\n
Wearing his mail carrier outfit, he went room to room delivering Valentine\u2019s cards made by students at nearby Dorseyville Middle School, handing them to donor families and staff, many of whom have personal ties to donation.<\/p>\n
National Donor Day is a reminder that love doesn\u2019t end with loss and that a single decision can give someone else a second chance at life.<\/p>\n