I have the best job in the world. At some point in every day I’m faced with the opportunity to pause and reflect on the amazing courage and generosity that people have, even during their darkest hour. I work with the organ donation and transplant teams at UW Hospital, where I meet donor family members and transplant recipients. I tell their stories in the hopes that more people will understand the importance of organ, tissue and eye donation.

Why is it important? Because more than 105,000 people in the United States are waiting for life-saving organs for transplant. Almost 1,500 of our family, friends and neighbors here in Wisconsin are still waiting, and a new name is added to the national wait list every 11 minutes. Eighteen people die every day because not enough organs are available.

The Rath family from Beloit knows these statistics well. Recently I traveled with a co-worker to accept a check from them in honor of their daughter, Hailey, from funds raised at an annual memorial event. I am so inspired by their actions, and those of hundreds of others like them who continue to give back in an effort to save even more lives. As in all things, together we are stronger.

Read more about the Rath family and the legacy their daughter left behind: Beloit Teen Continues to Make Ripples for Organ Donation

If you want to help:

• Learn more about organ donation and the UW Hospital and Clinics Organ Procurement Organization (OPO)
• Go to donatelifewisconsin.org to list yourself as an organ donor, and tell your family and friends that you support organ donation.
• Donations to support organ donation education efforts in Wisconsin can be directed to the Donor Education Fund: uwhcopo@uwhealth.org