Donate Life Month 2014
Newsletter Article for Hospitals – Wisconsin Tissue Bank
Thank you for supporting April as Donate Life Month. As part of this national effort, we offer
the article below. We invite you to customize it for your hospital newsletter or Intranet site by
inserting your hospital’s name in the designated areas. To include hospital-specific data, please
secure approvals from both your hospital administration and Wisconsin Tissue Bank. Call Greg
Asmus, Hospital Development Supervisor, at 414-937-6999 for approval.
Saving and improving lives through tissue donation
(Insert Hospital Name] supports National Donate Life Month
Each year, the lives of countless patients are saved and improved through the generous gift of
tissue donation. During the month of April – National Donate Life Month – we take the time to
raise awareness for organ, tissue and eye donation and the life-saving impact of those generous
gifts, as well as celebrate those that have saved lives through the gift of donation.
The staff at [Insert Hospital Name] are passionate about saving and improving lives every
day. Their compassion and dedication is evident as part of the highly coordinated donation
process. Our partnership with BloodCenter of Wisconsin, home to the Wisconsin Tissue Bank,
provides potential donor families in our area the opportunity to touch countless lives. Robin’s
story is just one example.
Robin’s story
Robin Barry was 16 years old when she joined the organ, tissue and eye registry. As a teenager, she never imagined her life would be impacted by a generous donor’s decision to do the
same thing.
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“Joining the registry felt like it was just part of getting my license,” says Robin.
As an adult, Robin hadn’t given much thought to the registry. She moved on with life and
became a successful marketing professional. Then two years ago, the memory of that registry
was recalled.
Robin sustained a serious knee injury, and instead of improving over time as she hoped, the
injury only became worse. After multiple visits to a variety of doctors, Robin learned that she
had a small hole in the cartilage that coats her knee. In short order, Robin underwent knee
surgery and received a tissue transplant.
“I never imagined that part of my recovery would be dependent on the generosity of a
complete stranger,” Robin admitted. The stranger was an organ and tissue donor.
Doctors told Robin a tissue transplant was the best option to avoid a full knee replacement,
which would likely need to be repeated in the future. She was able to have outpatient surgery,
and once the tissue was transplanted, it regenerated and recoated the surface of the knee.
Today, Robin is able to enjoy the simple things in life that so many take for granted.
“I can take my dogs to the park, go camping with my husband and easily walk up and down
stairs.” Before the surgery, kneeling was out of the question for Robin but now she is excited
to get back into gardening.
"Just take a few minutes to register and make time to talk to your family about your wishes.
What better way to honor the life you led along with your family by donating to help someone
else’s future," Robin said.
Many patients in need
BloodCenter of Wisconsin’s Wisconsin Tissue Bank serves 73 hospitals throughout the state.
In 2013, it supported 461 families who gave the gift of tissue donation. More than 25,000
patients last year received tissue through BloodCenter of Wisconsin as a result of donor gifts.
You can save and extend the lives of countless patients in need by becoming a donor.
 One tissue donor can enhance the lives of more than 50 recipients.
 1 in 20 people will need a tissue transplant in their lifetime.
 More than 121,000 people in the United States and more than 2,450 people in
Wisconsin are awaiting a life-saving organ transplant.
 19 people nationally die each day awaiting a transplant.
-MOREVisit www.bcw.edu/sharinglife for more information and share your wishes with your family. As
always, BloodCenter of Wisconsin also encourages you to donate the generous gift of blood, as
well as join the Be the Match Marrow Donor Registry. Wisconsin launched its own state donor
registry in 2010, so it’s important to visit our website if you haven’t registered or renewed your
commitment since then, even if you have a donor dot on your driver’s license. You never know
how many lives you could touch.
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