B-93 radio personality Dave Conrad is No. 1 fan for his kidney donor’s ArtPrize entry

MLive | Sue Thomas
Dave Conrad and Kristin O'Leary
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- B-93 radio personality Dave Conrad says he has two good reasons to spread the word about an ArtPrize entry: The artist is his kidney donor, and the drawing she has created is a compelling picture that reflects her giving nature.

Conrad is telling B-93 listeners about the artwork and asking readers on his blog to leave messages of love and support for artist Kristin O’Leary, the 25-year-old woman who donated a kidney for Conrad’s January 2011 transplant.

The entry, “Gratified” is exhibited at Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

The picture is a pencil drawing of Jesus holding on to a cross. Jesus, with eyes looking upward, is “reflecting on the sacrifice he made for everybody,” O’Leary said. “It reflects on people giving something of themselves.

It connects with her feelings about the kidney transplant, she said.

“I gave a part of me to help someone else so they could live a longer life.”
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