Organ donation puts positive light on weekend tragedy

APPLETON - As the families of three teenage girls from the Campbellsport area prepare to lay their loved ones to rest, some are honoring a courageous decision in the face of tremendous loss.

"We have received word that two of them have donated organs... I know for sure from the two families that I talked to they are comforted by the fact that they were able to donate," said Campbellsport High School principal Kris Langer.

At Theda-Clark Medical Center in Neenah, Dr. Ray Georgen is the director of the trauma center. He heads-up the organ donation program at the hospital. Dr. Georgen says asking a grieving family about organ donation is difficult. However, it's a decision that can save lives.

"It's an incredible gift in the face of incredible tragedy, but the benefits that occur from that, the ramifications are enormous," said Dr. Georgen.

Currently more than 112,000 people are on a waiting list for an organ donation. Daphne Hankey of New London made the decision to donate her son Mitchel's organs after he died in a car crash in 2009. Hankey says it's a way to help her keep his memory alive. But Hankey says her family was in shock when the doctors asked if they wanted his organs donated.

"When they approached us about organ donation, it seemed to be the only thing that made sense, because he had so much to offer that wasn't going to save him," Hankey said.

According to UW Hospital, 1,500 people in Wisconsin need an organ transplant. In 2011, 210 people in the state donated organs. Depending upon the circumstances surrounding their death, the average organ donor donates three organs, but can donate up to seven different organs.

"We've seen lives saved by heart transplants, lung transplants, kidneys, pancreas, liver, skin, bone, corneas, it goes on and on," said Dr. Georgen.

Making the decision to donate and sharing the information with loved ones can make it easier in a difficult situation.

"Knowing who Mitchel was and knowing his values and his ideas, I wouldn't even doubt that he would have said yes, go ahead," said Hankey.

While nothing will bring back the young lives lost for the families in this crash or for Hankey, she says the satisfaction of donating a loved ones organs helps with the healing process.

"We've actually been in contact with two of his recipients, and just meeting a family that is able to have because he was, made it worth it, he would have liked dying somebody's hero," said Hankey.