Miracle Man's Message and Toastmasters

Phillip Hanks is truly a miracle man. In 2021, he was the recipient of five organ donations. He is on a mission to encourage others to be open to being organ donors. To assist him in this effort, Phillip joined Lincoln-Way Toastmasters (LWTM) which is a local chapter of Toastmasters International. Toastmasters is a non-profit organization with over 280,000 members and more than 14,700 clubs in 144 countries. Toastmasters enables its members to be more effective communicators and leaders.

Sixteen years ago, Phillip had some health issues that required a liver transplant. He recovered from the transplant surgery and led a normal life, married and raising 6 children. Then in 2019, while playing a pickup basketball game with his son, he felt a pain go up his arm to his shoulder. The pain would not go away. He went to his doctor. Tests were done. Then he got the initial bad news that his liver and kidneys were failing. He needed a transplant of each organ.

Phillip started to visit several doctors at transplant centers in Chicago. The news only got worse. He discovered he also needed a pulmonary vein transplant. He could not find a doctor in Chicago who wanted to take on his case. Fortunately, Phillip found doctors affiliated with Indiana University Health in Indianapolis. They proposed a five-organ transplant which included a second liver, kidney, pancreas, large and small intestines, stomach, as well as a portion of a pulmonary vein.

Of course, Phillip was horrified and thought that his time was very limited. Then, spiritually he heard a voice that said, “I have been with you this long, why would I leave you now? I am going to use you as a testament to my glory.” Phillip felt he was hearing from God.

The organs and vein had to come from a single donor. About 4 months later after hearing the voice, Phillip received the call that a potential match was located. On April 26, 2021, he received four of the organs and pulmonary vein in a 7 ½-hour surgery. The following day, he received a kidney transplant in a 4 ½ hour surgery.

Phillip’s recovery was miraculous. Within 24 hours after the surgery, Phillip was able to stand and walk around the hospital floor. Within 3 months, he took his wife, Tiva, on a dream vacation to celebrate his miraculous transplant. Phillip’s six children: Deon, Alyssa, Cammeren, Collier, Aliya and Ron were overjoyed as well.

Prior to these health challenges, Phillip was an information technology professional. Currently, he works for the Illinois Secretary of State’s Organ/Tissue Donor Program as a Regional Coordinator. He has appeared in TV commercials, made public appearances and been a spokesman at miscellaneous events promoting the importance of donor registry. Phillip is also in the process of writing a book.

To highlight his story and encourage as many people as possible to join the donor registry, Phillip knew he needed to be a very good communicator. Years earlier, he had been a Toastmaster. He knows Toastmasters is the best place for everyday people to learn effective communication skills. In 2022, he joined LWTM.

If you want to develop your communication skills both in front of a group or one-on-one, you should attend a LWTM meeting. LWTM is a friendly, supportive group with a proven track record of member success. Guests are always welcome to our meetings, and you are never under any obligation. LWTM is non-profit and our membership fees are very nominal. Anyone 18 years or older can join.

LWTM meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month at 7:30 PM both in-person and virtually. Our in-person meetings are held at Frankfort Village Hall, located 432 Nebraska Street, Frankfort, IL. For more information, please email Thad Gray at: mail4thad@yahoo.com.