In this time of reflection and giving thanks, we’re especially grateful for our dedicated volunteers who support Bridge of Life in so many ways. Thank you for reflecting and sharing more about your experience with our community!

Mary Sullivan (Uganda Trip Volunteer 2023)

“This Thanksgiving season, I am especially grateful for the nearly five years I have been involved with Bridge of Life. What began as a curiosity-driven journey—participating as a teammate and in the Move It With Purpose program—quickly evolved into a deep partnership with Katie and the BOL team. Together, we engaged teammates in service with BOL, organizing projects at two DaVita Villagewides and advocating for team involvement at various events. Through these experiences, I came to deeply appreciate the passion, dedication, and energy of the BOL team and the incredible power of inviting others to join in their mission.

However, nothing compares to the experience of traveling with BOL on a service trip. Before November 2023, I had no idea just how extensive and vital BOL’s work truly is. During my visit to Uganda, I was confronted with the stark realities of kidney disease in regions where access to healthcare is limited. I saw firsthand the devastating impact of inadequate access to medical care. Yet, alongside the BOL team, I witnessed the transformative power of education, empowerment, and the work being done to improve lives.

Knowing that BOL’s efforts are ongoing in Kabale, Uganda and across the world fuels my excitement and commitment to stay involved. It also drives me to continue exploring how I can contribute to advancing BOL’s mission and supporting global kidney health.”

Wade McKnight (Guatemala Trip Volunteer 2024)

“As we enter this season of thanksgiving, I wanted to take a moment to express how Bridge of Life has been such an inspiration to me in cultivating a heart of gratitude. The work you and your team do has had a profound impact, constantly reminding me to reflect on the many blessings in my life, no matter the circumstances.

It was truly a privilege to be part of the June Guatemala PD mission. Building the PD rooms and interacting with the families, including the children, gave me new perspective on what matters most in life. Seeing the smiles firsthand and being able to play a small role in the incredible work being done there was an experience I will always cherish. Thank you for providing opportunities for our DaVita teammates to bring hope and treatment to underserved communities around the globe. I hope to get to return on another mission very soon.

Wishing you, and everyone at Bridge of Life, a season filled with peace, joy, and an abundance of gratitude.”

Delores Marquez (Guatemala Trip Volunteer 2024)

“During my BOL experience, I was thankful/grateful that the families we helped had a strong community in their remote areas. These families are going through a lot of stress and pain with their sick children, but they came together as a community and family which is beautiful. This made me want to focus on that even more here in the states.”

Spencer Hodge (Haiti Trip Volunteer 2018)

“I’m grateful to have found Bridge of Life.  It connected me to a community of people committed to making an impact in the lives of people suffering from chronic diseases. 

I remember working in Haiti in October 2018.  Our team was a mix of physicians, nurses, pharmacists and ordinary people like me; from all over the world; with no two stories the same.  But we found common inspiration in the work of BOL and giving back.  It was inspiring to be a part of, and that feeling keeps me coming back!”

Ana Fernandes (Guatemala Trip Volunteer 2023)

Gratitude. Emotion. Appreciation. Three words to show how grateful I am and will always be when I accepted volunteering for a week in Guatemala. I can’t put into words how grateful I am…I am pretty sure most of my best moments at DaVita involve BOL.

Melissa Hrdlicka (Uganda Trip Volunteer 2024)

“I don’t have a favorite moment in particular, but when I reflect on what BOL and my trip to Uganda in 2023 means to me and to furthering the BOL mission, one quote comes to mind that reminds me of the true essence of what BOL enables individual people like me to be a part of.

“A waterfall starts with just one drop of water, and look what comes from that!” ~Author unknown

We are all but just 1 drop of water, and each drop put together is when we can have a profound waterfall effect on the world.