In Fall 2008, 11-year-old Michael “Mikey” Carraway was a typical sixth grader. But on October 21, everything changed. Mikey suddenly became very ill and was admitted to the hospital. Days later, the family was told that Mikey would need a liver transplant to survive. Thanks to the generosity shown by the family of a 15-year-old donor, he received a liver transplant on November 1. Today, Mikey has paid the “Gift of Life” forward by feeding nearly 1,200 Oakland residents through his family’s “Mikey’s Meals” program for the homeless.

Michael's Story

In fall 2008, 11-year-old Michael “Mikey” Carraway was a typical sixth grader. He played drums, guitar and was learning to play the tenor saxophone. Along with his passion for music, he enjoyed extracurricular activities such as the math club, Indian dance and sports.

But on October 21, everything changed. Mikey suddenly became very ill and was admitted to the hospital. Days later, Mikey's family was told that he would need a liver transplant to survive.

Miraculously, Mikey was given a second chance at life. Thanks to the generosity shown by the family of a 15-year-old donor, he received a liver transplant on November 1. The procedure went well, and Mikey returned to school a month later.

When his mother Shaheda asked what he wanted most for Christmas, Mikey felt the need to pay the “Gift of Life” forward in a meaningful way and told her that he wanted to “feed the homeless” as a way of showing his gratitude and new zest for life. Two months after his transplant, Mikey and his family launched “Mikey’s Meals.” They fed 25 people that first Christmas. Since then, Mikey’s Meals has helped feed nearly 1,200 Oakland residents, and Mikey has hosted his first toy drive.

Recently, Mikey, 13, and his family completed training through the California Transplant Donor Network and became Donate Life Ambassadors. “Our hope is to educate and advocate throughout the community the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation by highlighting the difference that the ‘Gift of Life’ has made to Mikey and to us,” Shaheda noted.