Nationally, more than 100,000 people are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. Approximately 1,500 of these individuals live in Wisconsin, and about 400 come from Milwaukee alone. Despite the fact that 95% of Americans say they are in favor of organ and tissue donation, only 56% are registered donors.
We’re on a mission to bust myths, raise awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation, and encourage people to join the registry by adding the little orange dot to their driver’s license or state ID.
When her mother Wydia was diagnosed with kidney failure, Amber got tested and found she was a perfect match. Thanks to this selfless gift, Amber was able to spend an extra 15 years with the family matriarch. “You may never know who you’ve impacted by being a registered donor,” she says. “We are each other’s keeper.”
The day before Thanksgiving 2012, Jackie’s husband Dave was hit in the head by a falling tree and given no hope of recovery. He donated his heart, liver, both kidneys, bone and tissue to save and improve others’ lives. “The fact that Dave was an organ donor has helped me get through the early times and grief,” Jackie says. “I want people to know about organ donation and how they can truly impact lives by turning something really hard into something positive.”
Transplant surgeon Terra Pearson, MD, was first exposed to organ donation as a third-year medical student, when she observed a kidney transplant surgery. “There is a glimmer of hope that comes from organ donation, because you give the greatest gift of life from your pain,” she says. “You allow someone to be able to breathe. Someone to be able to walk again. Another person to be able to come off of dialysis. To have a new life again.”
Michael participated in a paired organ exchange, through which he donated a kidney to a person in Virginia, who in turn had a willing donor give a kidney to Michael’s friend. “The feeling you get from potentially saving someone’s life is an incredible reward that overtakes the risk,” Michael says. “This is something that has changed my life for the better and I know that it has changed my friend’s life for the better.”
Ger’s father received a kidney transplant in 2015. Now, Ger is on a mission to educate the Hmong community and dispel myths about what it means to be an organ and tissue donor.
Gigi’s brother donated his corneas after a valiant fight with sarcoma. She encourages members of Hispanic and Latino communities to join the registry and give hope to their families, friends and neighbors.
Megan received a bone and cartilage tissue transplant to repair her knee, which sustained sports-related injuries. Now, she encourages others to join the registry and help enhance the lives of people like her.
Dr. Gordon, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine physician, has seen firsthand the impact that tissue donation has on his patients. He encourages others to educate themselves about what tissue donation might mean for them.
Katina’s brother was only 12 years old when he passed away, but he donated his organs so others might live on. Katina is passionate about educating others about the importance of registering as a donor.
Andrea, who is involved in the pageant world, has made organ and tissue donation a key part of her platform. She has spoken about it on the state and local level and hopes to take her message national.