Healing Words by PMF

Founder’s Story

Thank you for taking a moment to read my story.

My name is Tim Pearson, and I’m a 56-year-old father of two wonderful children and a proud grandfather to three little ones—all under the age of three. Family has always been my greatest joy and purpose, and my deepest hope has simply been to be here long enough to watch them grow.

For the past year, my fiancé Dana has been by my side through one of the most difficult chapters of my life. Together, we walked a journey I never expected to take—a journey through end-stage liver failure, countless medical appointments, and the reality that without a liver transplant, my life would be cut short.  Under the remarkable care of the Hume-Lee Transplant Center at VCU Medical Center in Richmond, VA, I was approved to receive a transplant, including the possibility of a living donor—my best chance at survival at the time. Hume-Lee is one of the nation’s leading transplant centers, performing over 185 liver transplants in 2024.  Their dedication and compassion carried my family and me through many frightening days.  In living donor transplants, a portion of a healthy donor’s liver is transplanted into the recipient—and miraculously, both livers regenerate to near full size and function within 6–8 weeks. It represents one of the most incredible gifts a human being can give. Facing a terminal prognosis, I humbly asked my community to consider testing to become a living donor, or to share my story in hopes that the right match would come forward. I relied on faith, prayers, and the kindness of those willing to give life.

A Miracle Arrived

On Saturday, March 8th, 2025, I received a lifesaving liver transplant from a deceased organ donor. Because of the selfless decision made by one person and their family, I was given a second chance at life.  There are no words strong enough to express my gratitude—for my donor, for their grieving family, for the medical team that fought for me, and for every person who shared my story or prayed on my behalf. You are all part of this miracle.  Today, I am on the road to recovery, surrounded by love, hope, and a renewed purpose. I wake up each day with a heart full of gratitude.

Why I Founded Healing Words

This journey opened my eyes to the powerful emotional, spiritual, and practical challenges that transplant recipients, living donors, deceased donor families, and caregivers navigate every day.  There are moments of fear…  moments of gratitude that overwhelm…  moments when you feel alone…  and moments when hope becomes the anchor that carries you through.

I realized that our community needs more than medical care—we need connection, support, encouragement, and the comfort of knowing others truly understand.

That is why I founded this nonprofit:

To nurture hope.

To uplift every voice in the transplant journey.

To honor donors and their families.

To support recipients and their loved ones.

To create a space where healing—true healing—can flourish.

A Message to You

If you’ve shared my story, prayed for me, spread awareness, or simply held me in your thoughts—thank you.  If you are a donor or part of a donor family, you are a hero in every sense of the word.

If you are a transplant recipient or walking that path now, you are not alone.  This foundation exists because of a gift of life.  And it exists to carry that gift forward—through compassion, education, emotional support, and the healing power of shared stories.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

Thank you for believing in hope.

And thank you for helping us build a community where every story matters.

With gratitude,

Tim Pearson

Founder, Healing Words, 501(c)(3) organization established by the Pearson Montgomery Foundation Inc.

A second chance at life—is a gift meant to be shared.