Magnolia Robel was born with four different congenital heart defects, two of which needed immediate surgical intervention. As part of her treatment, she received a cadaveric tissue graft and both red cell and platelet transfusions. Magnolia’s father Pete, a Versiti apheresis coordinator, remembers seeing the Versiti bags on her IV pole and was reminded of the important work Versiti does every day.

“While visiting her in the hospital, I often thought about the journey those little cells made,” he says. “Did they come from a retiree or a nurse after a long shift, or a teenager at a high school mobile drive donating for the first time? All the familiar faces I see every day at work, just doing their jobs, don’t know that they could have helped save my daughter’s life.”

After two months at Children’s Wisconsin, Magnolia was able to come home. “Today, she’s doing great thanks to the selfless contributions of strangers,” Pete says. “Every time I see her scars and the shadow of her pacemaker, I’m reminded how many people needed to contribute to keep her new little life going. It took an enormous team of doctors and nurses, family and friends, understanding coworkers, our organization, and, of course, the same donors we all serve on a daily basis. I can’t thank any of them enough.”

Every 10 minutes, someone is added to the organ transplant waiting list.

Approximately 113,000 men, women, and children are waiting for life-saving organ transplants. One organ donor has the power to save up to eight lives and change the outcomes of someone’s world forever by giving them a second chance. Additionally, tissue donation can save and improve the lives of up to 75 people with their gifts. You can make a huge impact by registering as an organ and tissue donor.

Learn more about organ and tissue donation, or register as a donor at https://donatelifewisconsin.org.