Theresa Dumas remembers her husband, Kevin, as a gentleman with a great sense of humor and a smile that could light up a room. He loved motorcycles and didn’t believe in paying someone else to do something he could learn to do himself. But most of all, he loved Theresa. “He always said he didn’t want to do anything in life without me,” she says.

On September 17, 2023, Kevin woke up early for work, kissed Theresa goodbye and said he’d see her later, when they would visit their day-old granddaughter in the hospital. “That morning, we were texting back and forth, and I texted him a picture of the baby,” Theresa says. “I thought it was odd that he hadn’t texted back, but I didn’t think much of it.”

But then, Theresa received a call that Kevin was in a car accident and had been rushed to the ER. “I could tell by the looks on their faces that something wasn’t right,” she says. “Looking back, I think they were trying to protect me.” Doctors told her that Kevin’s heart stopped twice and though they managed to revive him, he only had a 1% chance of survival and would be in a vegetative state if he did survive. “Kevin was always independent, and he didn’t want his family to see him like that,” Theresa says. “It’s ironic; in the last couple of years, he’d said he’s donating his organs if anything should happen.” 

Kevin passed away just an hour later—but not before donating his tissues. “Even in death, he was concerned with how he could help other people,” Theresa says. “Kevin died with a comma behind his name, not a period. He was able to touch people, even after death.”

Now, Theresa encourages others to talk to their loved ones and share their wishes regarding donation. “It’s really important to have the conversation,” she says. “At the time of a loved one’s passing, tensions and emotions are dysregulated—you can’t think straight. But it’s important to know your loved one’s wishes and discuss that beforehand. It brings me comfort to know that Kevin continues to help others.”

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.