Alissa Saunders, a college student at Winona State University in Minnesota, grew up in a small town in Wisconsin. A dedicated powerlifter for nearly a decade, she even founded the university’s powerlifting club. Staying active has always been a core part of her identity.
“Powerlifting is a big part of who I am,” said Alissa. “I’m always active and in the gym, it’s a huge piece of my personality.” She began lifting in eighth grade and quickly grew passionate about the sport. But during college, an autoimmune condition affecting her connective tissue began to interfere with her training. Though her joints remained flexible, the tightening of her tendons and ligaments caused her kneecap to dislocate repeatedly, resulting in chronic pain and limited mobility.
Over time, the condition forced Alissa to scale back her training. She could no longer compete in full powerlifting meets and was restricted to bench press events. Initial surgeries failed to resolve the problem, and doctors eventually recommended full knee reconstruction.
In that third surgery, donor tendons and a bone graft were used to help rebuild her knee. Surgeons also repositioned her tibia to improve movement and function. The procedure marked a turning point. “There’s still scar tissue, but I’ve been slowly regaining strength,” she said. “I deadlifted for the first time since May 2022, and I just recently squatted the bar without pain. That was a huge milestone.”
For Alissa, this gift of tissue donation gave her more than physical healing, it gave her life back.
Six months after surgery, Alissa was walking comfortably again and gradually returning to other physical activities. She has been able to resume deadlifting and recently squatted a barbell for the first time in two years. While she continues to manage scar tissue and monitor progress, she’s encouraged by the improvements in her mobility and strength.
Her connection to donation goes beyond her own recovery. Alissa’s grandfather was a donor, and his gifts helped many others. “We received letters about where his donations went,” she said. “That meant a lot to us. Knowing he helped others gave us comfort.”
Today, Alissa and her entire family are registered donors. “You’re not going to use your body once you pass away,” she said. “If you can help others, even after you're gone, it’s such a powerful gift. You could save or transform so many lives.”
Alissa wrote a letter to her donor’s family, expressing her deep gratitude.
“I’m walking again. I’m powerlifting again. I got my independence back,” she said. “Not being able to do what I love was so hard. But now, I’m doing it again, and it’s amazing.”
Alissa is currently training for a national bench press competition this summer. Her story is a powerful reminder of how one donor can change a life and give someone the strength to rise again.