Heart of LifeShare

October 19, 2023 is a day the LifeShare Carolinas team will never forget. That night, we tragically lost one of our own, Whitney Hoppes. She was a friend to many of us and a tremendous teammate. In both capacities, she demonstrated kindness, selflessness and care for everyone she encountered. 

As we approached one year since losing Whitney, we discussed ways to carry on her legacy at LifeShare. At the same time, talks about a new annual award were taking place. The award would recognize a teammate who works hard, is successful at their job, and demonstrates that “extra something special.” 

The two conversations quickly became one. Since the recipient of this award must demonstrate the same characteristics Whitney had, it was only natural that the award would honor her. This annual award is appropriately named, The Heart of LifeShare. 

Whitney was a ray of light, devoted to helping everyone around her with a trademark sense of kindness and selflessness. The Heart of LifeShare honors a dedicated teammate who exceeds expectations of their role, is passionate about our mission, and carries themselves with the positive attitude that Whitney was known for.

The selection process wasn’t easy. LifeShare is filled with dedicated teammates who consistently go above and beyond. But a few stand out, having made their mark on our organization, with little fanfare or recognition. This year, we chose two recipients.

Mark Noles 

Most know Mark Noles as a serious, strict guy with a gruff exterior. But behind the tough façade is a kind, caring, hard worker who doesn’t settle. His leader, Ericka Harrison said, “He’s the one who thinks about what he could’ve done better, meticulously reviewing cases and outcomes in his head to identify opportunities for improvement. He’s the kind of guy who thinks about who our donor might’ve been, and he protects and honors them at all costs.” Mark has saved multiple kidneys with his expertise in organ perfusion.  

As an organ preservation coordinator, Mark had the privilege of traveling out of state to bring organs back to Charlotte for transplant. In a rare moment, Mark had the chance to meet a recipient of one of those organs. Ericka recalls seeing Mark come face to face with Ella Kate, knowing he had a hand in saving her life. “I saw his gruff exterior soften, his shoulders relax, and I watched tears fall from his eyes. It was in that moment that I understood the depths of his passion and love for donation. It is his brightest light.” 

Lauren Wigle       

Few people have the chance to impact our donor families the way Lauren Wigle does. As LifeShare’s continuing care coordinator, she cares for families through the hardest time of their lives. But Lauren is a light in the darkness. As a licensed therapist, she helps families process the pain of losing a loved one and move toward healing, knowing that their loved one’s legacy lives on. Lauren’s leader, Brianna Bleymaier, said, “We send her into seemingly impossible conversations with families, trusting that she will bring her signature calm and compassion to both the people and the situation.”

When you see Lauren at her desk, she’s usually surrounded by stacks of papers and envelopes. Some days she’s sorting letters written by donor families or recipients. Other times she’s mailing outcome letters, which provide donor families with information about how their loved one’s gifts were used. While it may seem like just a mountain of administrative work, Lauren knows every letter matters and handles every one with an extraordinary amount of care. Brianna reminds us how important this work is to LifeShare. “We are all here because of our donor families and their willingness to say ‘yes.’ Our families continue to engage with us and find comfort in sharing their story because of the work that Lauren does.”

LifeShare's executive leaders with Heart of LifeShare winners