Our Grand Marshals Stories!
My Story - Upton Howard - Grand Marshal 2024
In 2017, my life took an unexpected turn when kidney disease became an uninvited guest, altering the course of my days and casting a shadow over the simple joys of living. For nearly six years, I battled through dialysis, each day presenting its own challenges, and more than once, staring death in the face. Yet, amid the struggle, hope remained and refused to be extinguished.
On March 23rd, 2022, just three days following my birthday, fate orchestrated an incredible moment of transformation. It was a day that changed my life forever. I received the gift of life—a kidney. This precious gift, however, came from a selfless individual who, in their passing, bestowed not only life upon me, but upon others on my floor at UW Madison Transplant Center. Their generosity echoes in the hearts of those they've touched, spreading light in the midst of sorrow.
Throughout this journey, the support and love of my family—my wife, Jennifer, and my two sons, Ethan and Evan—sustained me through the most difficult of days. They held my hand through the storm, reminding me of the beautiful reasons to keep fighting, to keep hoping, and to never lose faith. To them, I owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude that mere words cannot begin to describe.
Today, not only am I a recipient of a life-altering gift, but also a witness to the incredible power of community and the beautiful spirit of humanity. Countless friends stepped forward, eager to donate, yet were denied by the transplant team for reasons beyond their control.
I extend my sincerest gratitude to the donor and their family, whose generosity and selflessness have granted me a second chance at life. I honor their memory and the legacy they have left behind—a legacy of compassion, kindness, and the incredible ability to change lives. As I walk forward from this day, I carry within me not only a new kidney but a renewed sense of purpose and a deep appreciation for the gift of life. I vow to honor this gift by living a life filled with gratitude, kindness, and a commitment to making every moment count.
On March 23rd, 2022, just three days following my birthday, fate orchestrated an incredible moment of transformation. It was a day that changed my life forever. I received the gift of life—a kidney. This precious gift, however, came from a selfless individual who, in their passing, bestowed not only life upon me, but upon others on my floor at UW Madison Transplant Center. Their generosity echoes in the hearts of those they've touched, spreading light in the midst of sorrow.
Throughout this journey, the support and love of my family—my wife, Jennifer, and my two sons, Ethan and Evan—sustained me through the most difficult of days. They held my hand through the storm, reminding me of the beautiful reasons to keep fighting, to keep hoping, and to never lose faith. To them, I owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude that mere words cannot begin to describe.
Today, not only am I a recipient of a life-altering gift, but also a witness to the incredible power of community and the beautiful spirit of humanity. Countless friends stepped forward, eager to donate, yet were denied by the transplant team for reasons beyond their control.
I extend my sincerest gratitude to the donor and their family, whose generosity and selflessness have granted me a second chance at life. I honor their memory and the legacy they have left behind—a legacy of compassion, kindness, and the incredible ability to change lives. As I walk forward from this day, I carry within me not only a new kidney but a renewed sense of purpose and a deep appreciation for the gift of life. I vow to honor this gift by living a life filled with gratitude, kindness, and a commitment to making every moment count.
My Story - Emily Lyons as told by Dawn Lyons-Wood - Grand Marshal 2023
Emily C. Lyons was born into this world a kind, beautiful, loving, giving soul and graced everyone she met. Now, she does so with her legacy of kindness, as well as her immensely shining spirit
My name is Dawn Lyons-Wood, and I am the proud donor mother of Emily. When Emily was 16, she did not think twice about saying “Yes” to organ and tissue donation.
Emily is the oldest of a loving, blended family of seven children. She took advantage of every earthly day. She was the Homecoming Queen, the Varsity Golf Captain, Mock Trial Lawyer, National Honor Society member and a mentor to underclassmen. Her kind heart affected everyone. I truly believe she was born to help mankind, and it is an honor to love her.
On March 1, 2015, due to a tragic snowmobile accident, Emily’s final selfless wish was granted. At 19 years old, Emily performed the ultimate act of kindness. With her donation, she saved six lives, gave sight to two people, and improved the quality of life for over 60 others. Not only did she save the lives of her recipients, but she also gave a gift to us. She gave us a positive focus.
Emily continues to teach us. Her legacy is not only her organ and tissue, but also her ripple effect. She has provided us the opportunity to see the good in others, be better, be kind, be #emstrong!
My favorite quote reads “If something comes to life in others because of you, then you have made an approach to immortality.” Emily has done this over and over again. She is my rock, my inspiration, and my reason for believing in something better in the world.
Proud mother moments continue –
Dawn, Emmy’s mom
My name is Dawn Lyons-Wood, and I am the proud donor mother of Emily. When Emily was 16, she did not think twice about saying “Yes” to organ and tissue donation.
Emily is the oldest of a loving, blended family of seven children. She took advantage of every earthly day. She was the Homecoming Queen, the Varsity Golf Captain, Mock Trial Lawyer, National Honor Society member and a mentor to underclassmen. Her kind heart affected everyone. I truly believe she was born to help mankind, and it is an honor to love her.
On March 1, 2015, due to a tragic snowmobile accident, Emily’s final selfless wish was granted. At 19 years old, Emily performed the ultimate act of kindness. With her donation, she saved six lives, gave sight to two people, and improved the quality of life for over 60 others. Not only did she save the lives of her recipients, but she also gave a gift to us. She gave us a positive focus.
Emily continues to teach us. Her legacy is not only her organ and tissue, but also her ripple effect. She has provided us the opportunity to see the good in others, be better, be kind, be #emstrong!
My favorite quote reads “If something comes to life in others because of you, then you have made an approach to immortality.” Emily has done this over and over again. She is my rock, my inspiration, and my reason for believing in something better in the world.
Proud mother moments continue –
Dawn, Emmy’s mom
My Story - Jennifer Kazik, written by Dan Kazik - Grand Marshal 2022
Jennifer Charlotte Kazik, she danced, she loved and she gave. Born November 28, 1985, Jennifer set onto a journey that in numbers of years was short, but it was full of love and caring. Jennifer’s room was a brightly painted pink room that was full of all the things a young girl could want. Books of all sorts, plush toys to hug, a squeaky hamster named Camillia and especially her coloring books. All these things became very important to Jennifer as time went on.
As Jennifer grew and played she began to slow down, she became tired easily and slept a lot. The trips to the doctor were inconclusive for about a year and concern was growing. Then came the day we got the call from Dr. Clarence Novotny, he said get to Children's Hospital of Milwaukee as soon as possible. It was terrifying and life saving at the same time. Jennifer’s kidneys failed to grow with her as she grew and therefore were not functioning enough for her needs. The discovery that Jennifer needed a new kidney was determined and we were trained how to administer home dialysis so Jennifer could be in that room she loved and we could begin the search for a donor.
After her mother and I were ruled out as potential donors, which was devastating news to get, we tapped into every available resource at hand with the help of a national and worldwide database. Time was passing, home dialysis was effective but to give Jennifer the quality of life a child should have, transplantation was needed. In steps Uncle John Kazik. John and Jennifer matched a phenomenal 4 out of 6 factors and the transplant was scheduled at Froedtert Hospital of Milwaukee.
The transplant was a success and Jennifer got to go home and be reunited with her brother Brian who was at grandma’s house learning to take his first steps.The 90’s were the most fantastic decade for our family. Due in large part because of the transplant, life was as normal as one could be. We took family trips, long and short which was possible because we were not bound by the restraints of dialysis.Soccer teams and school dances, cheerleading and special childhood friends all were a part of life, just as were the special visits from Uncle John. As 2000 progressed, Jennifer’s health deteriorated, by the end of 2000, Jennifer’s gift of life from Uncle John began failing.
Jennifer was “too old” to be seen by Children's Hospital, and started treatment at the Green Bay Dialysis Center, and we began the wait for a donor all over again. The health issues that Jennifer developed made this time of dialysis much more difficult. As time passed, a decision was made to perform a procedure on Jennifer that would help her body accept some of the newer treatments. This procedure was scheduled for July 7, 2003. As I sat with Jennifer prior to going into the hospital I sensed a calm about her. We talked about how we were on the verge of breaking through and getting her health back. God had other plans. Jennifer had just begun a spiritual path and I believe her calmness was due to the fact that she knew that she was in God’s hands now. Jennifer passed away on that operating table. I believe she did not feel a thing, simply went to sleep and began her journey home. God saw that Jennifer had battled and fought a good fight, but there was nothing we could do for her anymore, he called his angel to heaven.
Jennifer Charlotte Kazik was a loving, caring and giving daughter, granddaughter, great granddaughter and friend. It was these traits that made the decision to donate Jennifer’s organs easy. We know it is what she would have wanted to do, and her gifts to others keeps Jennifer’s memory and spirit alive. Her gifts were spread out worldwide. Jennifer donated bone, connective tissue and skin. Recipients included two males from California ages 32 and 33 and a transplant performed in Seoul, South Korea. Jennifer also is a part of others through connective tissue grafts, a 29 year old male from Michigan, a 19 year old female from Indiana, a 14 year old male in Texas and a 24 year old female in Alaska. This information was provided to our family in 2005.
Jennifer Charlotte Kazik 11.28.1985-7.7.2003
She is in God's loving care
Sadly missed, loved always, never to be forgotten
As Jennifer grew and played she began to slow down, she became tired easily and slept a lot. The trips to the doctor were inconclusive for about a year and concern was growing. Then came the day we got the call from Dr. Clarence Novotny, he said get to Children's Hospital of Milwaukee as soon as possible. It was terrifying and life saving at the same time. Jennifer’s kidneys failed to grow with her as she grew and therefore were not functioning enough for her needs. The discovery that Jennifer needed a new kidney was determined and we were trained how to administer home dialysis so Jennifer could be in that room she loved and we could begin the search for a donor.
After her mother and I were ruled out as potential donors, which was devastating news to get, we tapped into every available resource at hand with the help of a national and worldwide database. Time was passing, home dialysis was effective but to give Jennifer the quality of life a child should have, transplantation was needed. In steps Uncle John Kazik. John and Jennifer matched a phenomenal 4 out of 6 factors and the transplant was scheduled at Froedtert Hospital of Milwaukee.
The transplant was a success and Jennifer got to go home and be reunited with her brother Brian who was at grandma’s house learning to take his first steps.The 90’s were the most fantastic decade for our family. Due in large part because of the transplant, life was as normal as one could be. We took family trips, long and short which was possible because we were not bound by the restraints of dialysis.Soccer teams and school dances, cheerleading and special childhood friends all were a part of life, just as were the special visits from Uncle John. As 2000 progressed, Jennifer’s health deteriorated, by the end of 2000, Jennifer’s gift of life from Uncle John began failing.
Jennifer was “too old” to be seen by Children's Hospital, and started treatment at the Green Bay Dialysis Center, and we began the wait for a donor all over again. The health issues that Jennifer developed made this time of dialysis much more difficult. As time passed, a decision was made to perform a procedure on Jennifer that would help her body accept some of the newer treatments. This procedure was scheduled for July 7, 2003. As I sat with Jennifer prior to going into the hospital I sensed a calm about her. We talked about how we were on the verge of breaking through and getting her health back. God had other plans. Jennifer had just begun a spiritual path and I believe her calmness was due to the fact that she knew that she was in God’s hands now. Jennifer passed away on that operating table. I believe she did not feel a thing, simply went to sleep and began her journey home. God saw that Jennifer had battled and fought a good fight, but there was nothing we could do for her anymore, he called his angel to heaven.
Jennifer Charlotte Kazik was a loving, caring and giving daughter, granddaughter, great granddaughter and friend. It was these traits that made the decision to donate Jennifer’s organs easy. We know it is what she would have wanted to do, and her gifts to others keeps Jennifer’s memory and spirit alive. Her gifts were spread out worldwide. Jennifer donated bone, connective tissue and skin. Recipients included two males from California ages 32 and 33 and a transplant performed in Seoul, South Korea. Jennifer also is a part of others through connective tissue grafts, a 29 year old male from Michigan, a 19 year old female from Indiana, a 14 year old male in Texas and a 24 year old female in Alaska. This information was provided to our family in 2005.
Jennifer Charlotte Kazik 11.28.1985-7.7.2003
She is in God's loving care
Sadly missed, loved always, never to be forgotten
My Story - Gina Van Dahm - Grand Marshal 2020 AND 2021
My name is Gina Van Dahm and organ donation has saved my life not just once, but three times. And to me, the saying “third/three time’s the charm” means more to me than most. I am 35 years old and live in Green Bay, WI with my amazing fiancé, Mike, and my two adorable dogs/kids, Dante and Nala. I have had my share of hardships and times of wanting to give up, but with each transplant, I learned more about myself and how strong of a person I truly was.
At the age of 18, it was a yellow tint in the whites of my eyes that landed me in the office of a liver specialist at Marshfield Clinic. He diagnosed me with Autoimmune Hepatitis a week before going off to college. I had no idea what to expect following the diagnosis and college was a true test for me, but I adapted, and I learned ways to cope with the symptoms that came with the disease and the side effects of the steroids that I was continuously on. College was difficult for me, to say the least, but giving up was not an option and graduating from UWGB was something that I will always be proud of.
It was in November of 2009, when I found out that I was misdiagnosed. I showed up to work one day, very ill and jaundice from head to toe and was sent to see Dr. Shiva Kumar at Aurora St. Lukes in Milwaukee. He was a liver specialist and part of the liver transplant team there. After he performed a liver biopsy on me, he diagnosed me with a rare liver disease called PSC (Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis). PSC is a chronic liver disease that affects the bile ducts. The ducts begin to narrow due to inflammation which then causes scarring in the liver. Being told that I had PSC was one of the most life altering and scariest moments of my life. I was told there was no cure or treatment for this disease and it was devastating but also confusing at the same time. How did I get this disease? And why me? No one in my family had any sort of liver disease or issue. How did I go from being a healthy kid to needing a liver transplant at age 25? Nothing made sense to me except for the diagnosis of my IBD and Ulcerative Colitis that I received a year before all of this. I always had stomach issues growing up so to finally have a doctor tell me that there was a reason behind it was a huge relief. And on top of that, I found out that my UC diagnosis was also related to my liver disease. Approximately 75% of people who have PSC have some form of IBS, whether it’s UC, Crohns or just IBD in general.
Knowing that I would eventually need a liver transplant, at age 26, I double listed on the transplant list at Aurora St. Luke’s Hospital in Milwaukee and at UW- Madison Hospital in Madison. During the year and a half of being on the waitlist, I slowly began to show signs of liver failure. The doctors and nurses don’t fully prepare you for what comes with liver failure but the unbearable jaundice, itching, fatigue, and the build-up of ascites fluid in my belly was more than enough. But finally, on May 15th, I got the life changing call from St. Lukes in Milwaukee and I received the gift of life, the next day, on May 16, 2012.
With my first transplant, the recovery was long and hard. Nothing seemed to go right and my liver numbers never went back to normal. I developed a hernia from my transplant scar and I had it repaired in January of 2014. During my surgery, my surgeon decided to biopsy my liver while he had me opened up. He found signs of cirrhosis in my new liver and that helped explain the constant elevation in my liver enzymes. I was never really told why my new liver was scarring again but one of the possible explanations was the PSC had returned. And to this day, I may never know.
To our surprise, my second transplant came a lot sooner than we expected and I was not mentally prepared for the difficulties ahead. In a matter of 3 short months, my health took a turn for the worse and I was put on a transplant list in May of 2015. Between May and the beginning of August, I was hospitalized multiple times and had to get several ERCP’s done in order to keep my liver functioning properly. But eventually, the ERCP procedures couldn’t help anymore. I don’t remember much of the two weeks, before my second transplant, because I was in and out of consciousness. My MELD score was at a 40, and at that point, my Mom was told that I needed a liver within days or I would not make it. The one thing I do remember, was waking up and hearing my mom ask “Are you here with me Gina? I remember saying “Yes Mom. I’m here”. She started to cry and in seconds the phone rang. My Mom answered it, looked at me with a huge sigh of relief, and said “There’s a liver for you Gina!” UW-Madison called and had a liver for me. I was ambulanced to Madison and received my second gift of life on August 15, 2015. That day, my Mom and I witnessed a miracle.
In June of 2016, I developed a severe liver infection that produced multiple infected bilomas in my liver. I had to have these pockets of infection drained several times and I was on constant IV antibiotics for more than a year. The infectious disease doctors believed a certain bacteria made its way into my liver through my small intestine. And not only was my liver a cest-pool of infection, but I also had developed a condition called Hepatic Vein Thrombosis. This is a rare condition that affects the hepatic artery and the blood flow from your heart to your liver. So on top of the multiple liver infections, I wasn’t getting enough oxygenated blood to my liver from my heart which contributed to the damage of liver cells. Both of these conditions were the reason for my third and, hopefully final, liver transplant. I received my third gift of life on June 19, 2017 at UW-Madison Hospital. Not only was this transplant the reason behind my team name Third Times the Charm, but it also was extra special to me and my Dad. It was Father’s Day when I was told that they had my third liver for me and my Dad was by my side when they gave me the good news. He said it was the best Father’s Day present he has ever had.
Because of Organ Donation, I will finally be able to marry the man who stole my heart. My fiancé, Mike, and I will be getting married on November 6, 2020 [Gina and Mike were actually married on September 27 2021 after having to postpone for COVID] and we are so excited and thankful that we can finally plan our wedding! We have been together for 10 years and engaged for 7 of those years. With the liver failure, the 3 transplant surgeries, medical bills, and having to miss several weeks upon weeks of work, we haven’t been able to plan a wedding yet….until NOW! With the help of my friends Angie, Kim, and Jamie; they reached out to the Green Bay and Fox Valley Community with my transplant story and created a surprise video for Mike and I. The video contained multiple vendors/venues and strangers who wanted to donate their time and effort to help give us our dream wedding! These selfless people and this amazing community has shown me how much good there still is in this world and how even one person’s story of Organ Donation can truly bring a community together. These people and this community have made this wedding more special than I could ever imagine it to be and I am truly grateful to each and every one of them.
Between my transplants and my surprise dream wedding, I have so much to be thankful for in my life right now. I am so grateful for my three organ donors and their families for giving me three more chances at life. I am so thankful for my transplant doctors, my nurses, my family and friends for supporting me and helping me fight through all of this. And I know that if it wasn’t for God and Organ Donation, I wouldn’t be here today. You can bet that Organ Donation will continue to always be the center of my life and I can’t wait to make it part of my special wedding day!
At the age of 18, it was a yellow tint in the whites of my eyes that landed me in the office of a liver specialist at Marshfield Clinic. He diagnosed me with Autoimmune Hepatitis a week before going off to college. I had no idea what to expect following the diagnosis and college was a true test for me, but I adapted, and I learned ways to cope with the symptoms that came with the disease and the side effects of the steroids that I was continuously on. College was difficult for me, to say the least, but giving up was not an option and graduating from UWGB was something that I will always be proud of.
It was in November of 2009, when I found out that I was misdiagnosed. I showed up to work one day, very ill and jaundice from head to toe and was sent to see Dr. Shiva Kumar at Aurora St. Lukes in Milwaukee. He was a liver specialist and part of the liver transplant team there. After he performed a liver biopsy on me, he diagnosed me with a rare liver disease called PSC (Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis). PSC is a chronic liver disease that affects the bile ducts. The ducts begin to narrow due to inflammation which then causes scarring in the liver. Being told that I had PSC was one of the most life altering and scariest moments of my life. I was told there was no cure or treatment for this disease and it was devastating but also confusing at the same time. How did I get this disease? And why me? No one in my family had any sort of liver disease or issue. How did I go from being a healthy kid to needing a liver transplant at age 25? Nothing made sense to me except for the diagnosis of my IBD and Ulcerative Colitis that I received a year before all of this. I always had stomach issues growing up so to finally have a doctor tell me that there was a reason behind it was a huge relief. And on top of that, I found out that my UC diagnosis was also related to my liver disease. Approximately 75% of people who have PSC have some form of IBS, whether it’s UC, Crohns or just IBD in general.
Knowing that I would eventually need a liver transplant, at age 26, I double listed on the transplant list at Aurora St. Luke’s Hospital in Milwaukee and at UW- Madison Hospital in Madison. During the year and a half of being on the waitlist, I slowly began to show signs of liver failure. The doctors and nurses don’t fully prepare you for what comes with liver failure but the unbearable jaundice, itching, fatigue, and the build-up of ascites fluid in my belly was more than enough. But finally, on May 15th, I got the life changing call from St. Lukes in Milwaukee and I received the gift of life, the next day, on May 16, 2012.
With my first transplant, the recovery was long and hard. Nothing seemed to go right and my liver numbers never went back to normal. I developed a hernia from my transplant scar and I had it repaired in January of 2014. During my surgery, my surgeon decided to biopsy my liver while he had me opened up. He found signs of cirrhosis in my new liver and that helped explain the constant elevation in my liver enzymes. I was never really told why my new liver was scarring again but one of the possible explanations was the PSC had returned. And to this day, I may never know.
To our surprise, my second transplant came a lot sooner than we expected and I was not mentally prepared for the difficulties ahead. In a matter of 3 short months, my health took a turn for the worse and I was put on a transplant list in May of 2015. Between May and the beginning of August, I was hospitalized multiple times and had to get several ERCP’s done in order to keep my liver functioning properly. But eventually, the ERCP procedures couldn’t help anymore. I don’t remember much of the two weeks, before my second transplant, because I was in and out of consciousness. My MELD score was at a 40, and at that point, my Mom was told that I needed a liver within days or I would not make it. The one thing I do remember, was waking up and hearing my mom ask “Are you here with me Gina? I remember saying “Yes Mom. I’m here”. She started to cry and in seconds the phone rang. My Mom answered it, looked at me with a huge sigh of relief, and said “There’s a liver for you Gina!” UW-Madison called and had a liver for me. I was ambulanced to Madison and received my second gift of life on August 15, 2015. That day, my Mom and I witnessed a miracle.
In June of 2016, I developed a severe liver infection that produced multiple infected bilomas in my liver. I had to have these pockets of infection drained several times and I was on constant IV antibiotics for more than a year. The infectious disease doctors believed a certain bacteria made its way into my liver through my small intestine. And not only was my liver a cest-pool of infection, but I also had developed a condition called Hepatic Vein Thrombosis. This is a rare condition that affects the hepatic artery and the blood flow from your heart to your liver. So on top of the multiple liver infections, I wasn’t getting enough oxygenated blood to my liver from my heart which contributed to the damage of liver cells. Both of these conditions were the reason for my third and, hopefully final, liver transplant. I received my third gift of life on June 19, 2017 at UW-Madison Hospital. Not only was this transplant the reason behind my team name Third Times the Charm, but it also was extra special to me and my Dad. It was Father’s Day when I was told that they had my third liver for me and my Dad was by my side when they gave me the good news. He said it was the best Father’s Day present he has ever had.
Because of Organ Donation, I will finally be able to marry the man who stole my heart. My fiancé, Mike, and I will be getting married on November 6, 2020 [Gina and Mike were actually married on September 27 2021 after having to postpone for COVID] and we are so excited and thankful that we can finally plan our wedding! We have been together for 10 years and engaged for 7 of those years. With the liver failure, the 3 transplant surgeries, medical bills, and having to miss several weeks upon weeks of work, we haven’t been able to plan a wedding yet….until NOW! With the help of my friends Angie, Kim, and Jamie; they reached out to the Green Bay and Fox Valley Community with my transplant story and created a surprise video for Mike and I. The video contained multiple vendors/venues and strangers who wanted to donate their time and effort to help give us our dream wedding! These selfless people and this amazing community has shown me how much good there still is in this world and how even one person’s story of Organ Donation can truly bring a community together. These people and this community have made this wedding more special than I could ever imagine it to be and I am truly grateful to each and every one of them.
Between my transplants and my surprise dream wedding, I have so much to be thankful for in my life right now. I am so grateful for my three organ donors and their families for giving me three more chances at life. I am so thankful for my transplant doctors, my nurses, my family and friends for supporting me and helping me fight through all of this. And I know that if it wasn’t for God and Organ Donation, I wouldn’t be here today. You can bet that Organ Donation will continue to always be the center of my life and I can’t wait to make it part of my special wedding day!
My Story - Lauren Wolfe - Grand Marshal 2019
Lauren was nearing the end of kindergarten and excited about turning six in just a few short weeks. We started celebrating the weekend before her birthday with a party that included all the family on Saturday, and a party with all her friends at the zoo on Sunday. And if that weren’t enough, I chaperoned her field trip to Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve on Monday and tromped through the woods all day with her and her classmates. It seemed as if the celebrating might continue right up to her actual birthday. But the next day rapidly put an end to that type of thinking.
Lauren woke up on Tuesday feeling very ill. She was complaining of pain on the left side of her chest and started vomiting. I took Lauren to see her pediatrician right away. It was apparent that she was very sick, so she was admitted to St. Vincent Hospital where they began running tests. When the nurse took her vital signs, she noted that her heart rate was unusually slow. An abnormal EKG and echocardiogram revealed that Lauren was in heart failure. She needed to be transported to the Cardiac ICU at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee immediately. It was clear that Lauren was going to turn six while being hospitalized.
The first week of Lauren’s hospital stay was spent trying to figure out what had happened to her heart. After three weeks of monitoring her on multiple medications to support her heart function, we were none the wiser. To this day, we still don’t know what caused her drastic change in health, but it was apparent that she could not recover from the injury her heart had suffered. The experts told us that her only option was a heart transplant.
Lauren was added to the waiting list in the highest priority category. Gratefully, she only spent three weeks on the list before the right match was found for her. She spent several more weeks recovering from the surgery and receiving therapy to regain her strength. She will take medications daily for an extended period of her life to keep her body from rejecting the donated organ and she will have check-ups every three months in Milwaukee.
Today, Lauren is doing well and is a perennial participant in the American Heart Association's Jump Rope for Heart through her school. If it had not been for the ultimate generosity of the decision to be an organ donor, Lauren may not have survived. There is no act more giving and more hopeful for the future, than becoming a registered organ, eye, and tissue donor. Luck was on Lauren’s side because someone made the decision to be a donor. Fortunately, she will be able to look forward to many more birthday celebrations. If you are already signed up to be a donor, thank you! If not, please, please, please, consider signing up to donate!
Abby Reiswitz's Story as told by her mother, Gena Haase - Grand Marshal 2018
Every time I renewed my license, I would place that little orange sticker on it that designated me as an organ donor. I made that decision years ago, without ever thinking that that decision would impact me so personally. That it would, one day, actually apply to one of my very own children.
Abigail Raye Reiswitz was my nearly fourteen year old daughter, who attended Peshtigo Middle School when tragedy struck. She was involved in many school activities such as volleyball, softball, band and choir. She trained with the running club and had participated in the Bellin Run for the past two years. Abby was also passionate about art and music. She had a spirit beyond her years and was a “Raye” of sunshine to her family and her friends.
Abby was also severely allergic to dairy and many other foods. So allergic that if she were to ingest any she would have a severe allergic reaction and go into anaphylactic shock. Sadly, this is exactly what happened at a family dinner in January of 2016. Abby accidently ingested dairy product and had an acute asthmatic attack, which resulted in respiratory failure. I immediately performed CPR until emergency crews were able to arrive. They were able to get Abby’s heart restarted and she was admitted to St. Vincent’s Hospital. However, Abby had gone too long without oxygen and a day after she was admitted, the medical personnel told us that her brain would not recover.
That was when that little orange dot became a huge part of our family. The decision her father and I made about donating Abby’s organs, although emotional, was not a hard one to make. We felt Abby, being such a loving and caring person, would have wanted it that way. She would have felt that donating her organs and possibly helping save or prolong another person’s life would be an honor.
On January 27th, the official day of her death, the hospital provided us with some very special time with Abby. We told stories, listened to her favorite music, painted her nails and braided her hair. When the time came to say “good-bye”, it was obviously extremely difficult for us. Since we had actually lost her days before, though, we somehow felt hopeful. Hopeful in that Abby’s organs would be healthy enough to answer another family’s prayers.
Abby was ultimately able to share her liver, her kidneys and her pancreas. And through doing so, she became a hero to me and to her organ recipients. The unselfish act of giving someone more time and more life is a beautiful thing... Beautiful, just like our little girl, Abby Raye.
Abigail Raye Reiswitz was my nearly fourteen year old daughter, who attended Peshtigo Middle School when tragedy struck. She was involved in many school activities such as volleyball, softball, band and choir. She trained with the running club and had participated in the Bellin Run for the past two years. Abby was also passionate about art and music. She had a spirit beyond her years and was a “Raye” of sunshine to her family and her friends.
Abby was also severely allergic to dairy and many other foods. So allergic that if she were to ingest any she would have a severe allergic reaction and go into anaphylactic shock. Sadly, this is exactly what happened at a family dinner in January of 2016. Abby accidently ingested dairy product and had an acute asthmatic attack, which resulted in respiratory failure. I immediately performed CPR until emergency crews were able to arrive. They were able to get Abby’s heart restarted and she was admitted to St. Vincent’s Hospital. However, Abby had gone too long without oxygen and a day after she was admitted, the medical personnel told us that her brain would not recover.
That was when that little orange dot became a huge part of our family. The decision her father and I made about donating Abby’s organs, although emotional, was not a hard one to make. We felt Abby, being such a loving and caring person, would have wanted it that way. She would have felt that donating her organs and possibly helping save or prolong another person’s life would be an honor.
On January 27th, the official day of her death, the hospital provided us with some very special time with Abby. We told stories, listened to her favorite music, painted her nails and braided her hair. When the time came to say “good-bye”, it was obviously extremely difficult for us. Since we had actually lost her days before, though, we somehow felt hopeful. Hopeful in that Abby’s organs would be healthy enough to answer another family’s prayers.
Abby was ultimately able to share her liver, her kidneys and her pancreas. And through doing so, she became a hero to me and to her organ recipients. The unselfish act of giving someone more time and more life is a beautiful thing... Beautiful, just like our little girl, Abby Raye.
Our Story - Tony and Melissa Arenas - Grand Marshals 2017
2015 was a year I will never forget! On May 24, 2015, I married my high school crush Melissa! It was an incredible day and I was feeling great, all things considered. Thirty-one years prior, I was born with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). CF is a disease that primarily attacks the respiratory system. It also affects the digestive system and other parts of the body. Due to the ease of getting lung infections and other complications, my parents were told I would not live to graduate high school. However, due to the wonderful research and advancements made by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, here I was, 30+ years later getting married!
Everything was picture perfect! I had on a gray tuxedo and Melissa looked beautiful dressed in white! What our guests did not notice was that I had to sneak away to take oxygen breaks. Earlier that year, my doctors had put me on oxygen for the first time ever. It was so disheartening. I had worked all my life to stay healthy. I did around 4 hours a day of chest therapy and took dozens of pills every day, but my fight was no match for the destruction going on in my lungs. My lung function was dropping more and more every month. However, we finally seemed to get it stable for the day of our wedding!
After the wedding things started to take an upswing! I did not need to be on oxygen during the day and my lung function took a any step up! We even took a family trip to NYC! However, later that summer things took a turn for the worse. I had to go on more oxygen and my lung function was dropping again. By the fall, I had to trade in my oxygen machine for one that had an even higher output. By October, I was on 10L of oxygen and still struggling to breathe.
It was at that point -- October 14, 2015 -- my doctors admitted me into the hospital in Milwaukee and began evaluations for transplant. I was getting sicker and sicker as the days went on. I was so weak I could hardly walk at that point. My doctor did everything she could to get all the testing done STAT to help get me listed for transplant as quickly as possible. About 10 days later, I had completed all the tests and my case went in front of the board for review.
The head transplant doctor came into the room to deliver the news to me. “I’m sorry Tony, but we cannot help you here.” My case was too high risk and they were not going to list me for a transplant. My family was all shocked, scared, and unsure what would happen next. I looked over at Melissa and said “Don’t worry, I can still get new lungs and be home before Thanksgiving!” There was absolutely no way that could happen though, right? It was the end of October, Thanksgiving was a month away, and I was just denied to even be listed as a transplant candidate!
Hours later, I was being flown via Flight for Life to UW Hospital in Madison. The lung team there agreed to see and evaluate me for transplant. They re-did all the tests there within a week and came back with their decision – THEY WOULD LIST ME FOR TRANSPLANT! We were all so excited, but we knew this was not the end of the road. I still had to get a match. Some people wait weeks, months, or even years for a match. However, I did not have that much time. My body was slowly shutting down and I did not have much longer to live.
The very next day, the transplant coordinator came in and said “Tony, we have a match for you! Would you like to accept this gift?” YES! In a record time for the UW Hospital, just 30 hours, they had found a match for me! It was truly a MIRACLE!
I woke up a day after surgery with a pair of beautiful new lungs inside me! Surgery was a success and I was on the road to recovery! Things were going so well! The team at UW Hospital in Madison did an amazing job and I got to keep my promise to Melissa! I was walking out of the hospital THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING!
Everything was picture perfect! I had on a gray tuxedo and Melissa looked beautiful dressed in white! What our guests did not notice was that I had to sneak away to take oxygen breaks. Earlier that year, my doctors had put me on oxygen for the first time ever. It was so disheartening. I had worked all my life to stay healthy. I did around 4 hours a day of chest therapy and took dozens of pills every day, but my fight was no match for the destruction going on in my lungs. My lung function was dropping more and more every month. However, we finally seemed to get it stable for the day of our wedding!
After the wedding things started to take an upswing! I did not need to be on oxygen during the day and my lung function took a any step up! We even took a family trip to NYC! However, later that summer things took a turn for the worse. I had to go on more oxygen and my lung function was dropping again. By the fall, I had to trade in my oxygen machine for one that had an even higher output. By October, I was on 10L of oxygen and still struggling to breathe.
It was at that point -- October 14, 2015 -- my doctors admitted me into the hospital in Milwaukee and began evaluations for transplant. I was getting sicker and sicker as the days went on. I was so weak I could hardly walk at that point. My doctor did everything she could to get all the testing done STAT to help get me listed for transplant as quickly as possible. About 10 days later, I had completed all the tests and my case went in front of the board for review.
The head transplant doctor came into the room to deliver the news to me. “I’m sorry Tony, but we cannot help you here.” My case was too high risk and they were not going to list me for a transplant. My family was all shocked, scared, and unsure what would happen next. I looked over at Melissa and said “Don’t worry, I can still get new lungs and be home before Thanksgiving!” There was absolutely no way that could happen though, right? It was the end of October, Thanksgiving was a month away, and I was just denied to even be listed as a transplant candidate!
Hours later, I was being flown via Flight for Life to UW Hospital in Madison. The lung team there agreed to see and evaluate me for transplant. They re-did all the tests there within a week and came back with their decision – THEY WOULD LIST ME FOR TRANSPLANT! We were all so excited, but we knew this was not the end of the road. I still had to get a match. Some people wait weeks, months, or even years for a match. However, I did not have that much time. My body was slowly shutting down and I did not have much longer to live.
The very next day, the transplant coordinator came in and said “Tony, we have a match for you! Would you like to accept this gift?” YES! In a record time for the UW Hospital, just 30 hours, they had found a match for me! It was truly a MIRACLE!
I woke up a day after surgery with a pair of beautiful new lungs inside me! Surgery was a success and I was on the road to recovery! Things were going so well! The team at UW Hospital in Madison did an amazing job and I got to keep my promise to Melissa! I was walking out of the hospital THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING!
Michele Weseloh's Story as told by Scott & Victoria Weseloh, Grand Marshals 2016
My mom’s birthday was May 30th. On May 31st she suffered her first brain aneurysm. I had just gotten home from school and I called her at work to let her know I was home. This was our daily routine. Soon after I got home, my dad arrived home. He went out to mow the lawn and then said he was going to take the grass clippings to the compost yard. Since the compost yard was such a short distance from our house, he left his phone at home. While he was gone, his phone rang and it was my mom. I answered it and she sounded really scared. I thought that there had been a robbery at Harbor Credit Union, where she worked. She asked for dad, but I said he wasn't home. As soon as I hung up the phone, he pulled in the driveway. I told him Mom called and sounded scared, so he immediately called her back. One of her coworkers answered and told us she had collapsed on the floor and was on her way to the hospital. When we got to the hospital, she had to have surgery to fix the aneurysm and had to stay in the hospital for a month or so. The doctor said that they performed this new treatment for brain aneurysms, which was to prevent the other two aneurysms that they had discovered during the surgery from bursting. This sounded like great news to us.
On my dad’s birthday, she was sent home with a really good prognosis. there was only a 1% chance that anything could happen to her. We celebrated her coming home and my dad’s birthday with the family. The next day my dad and I were invited across the street to celebrate his birthday, and we weren't going to go, but my mom urged us to go and she said she would be fine. So, we went for a short while. I had to come home to get something, though, and I walked into the living room and found her lying on the floor almost unconscious. She started to moan like she was trying to say something, but I couldn't tell what she was saying. I told her she would be okay and I rushed back over across the street for help. We called an ambulance and they rushed her to the hospital. I stayed at my neighbor’s house that night, while my dad went to the hospital with Mom. At 1:00am I was woken up by my dad and my uncle. They told me then that she had passed away. At first I thought everything was a dream, so I just went along with it. But on the way to the hospital, it suddenly became reality and I realized I had lost my mom.
As sad as this was, there is an upside. My mom was an organ donor and she was able to help over 100 people by donating her organs, such as her heart and also donating her skin for skin grafts for burn victims. Grieving my mom was the hardest thing I ever had to do, but the importance of this gift my mother gave became clear to me during the summer after her death. My family was invited to a ceremony for the families who had a loved one who donated their organs. As I was sitting there at this ceremony, I started to realize how amazing organ donation is. My mom helped many other people live! Working with the Student Council on the Donate Life Walk has has helped me realize the importance of what she did even more. It opened up my eyes to the knowledge that so many people are waiting for organ donations, and that one single person can help so many. I'm not saying that this is easy. Organ donation is a roller coaster of emotions. You're mad because someone else got to live and your loved one didn't and you're sad because you miss your loved one, but in the end, you're just grateful for what they did. I urge everybody to become an organ donor because that small orange dot can save many lives.
On my dad’s birthday, she was sent home with a really good prognosis. there was only a 1% chance that anything could happen to her. We celebrated her coming home and my dad’s birthday with the family. The next day my dad and I were invited across the street to celebrate his birthday, and we weren't going to go, but my mom urged us to go and she said she would be fine. So, we went for a short while. I had to come home to get something, though, and I walked into the living room and found her lying on the floor almost unconscious. She started to moan like she was trying to say something, but I couldn't tell what she was saying. I told her she would be okay and I rushed back over across the street for help. We called an ambulance and they rushed her to the hospital. I stayed at my neighbor’s house that night, while my dad went to the hospital with Mom. At 1:00am I was woken up by my dad and my uncle. They told me then that she had passed away. At first I thought everything was a dream, so I just went along with it. But on the way to the hospital, it suddenly became reality and I realized I had lost my mom.
As sad as this was, there is an upside. My mom was an organ donor and she was able to help over 100 people by donating her organs, such as her heart and also donating her skin for skin grafts for burn victims. Grieving my mom was the hardest thing I ever had to do, but the importance of this gift my mother gave became clear to me during the summer after her death. My family was invited to a ceremony for the families who had a loved one who donated their organs. As I was sitting there at this ceremony, I started to realize how amazing organ donation is. My mom helped many other people live! Working with the Student Council on the Donate Life Walk has has helped me realize the importance of what she did even more. It opened up my eyes to the knowledge that so many people are waiting for organ donations, and that one single person can help so many. I'm not saying that this is easy. Organ donation is a roller coaster of emotions. You're mad because someone else got to live and your loved one didn't and you're sad because you miss your loved one, but in the end, you're just grateful for what they did. I urge everybody to become an organ donor because that small orange dot can save many lives.
My Story - Erin Davisson, Grand Marshal 2015
Erin Davisson co-anchors the 5, 6 & 10 pm newscasts on WFRV-TV with Tom Zalaski.
Erin is originally from Beloit, Wisconsin and started her TV news career in Wausau. She’s also worked as a reporter/announcer in both commercial and public radio. Erin has been at WFRV-TV since 1988.
Since beginning her career in Green Bay, Erin has won numerous reporting and anchoring awards, and has consistently been voted Best Anchor in newspaper polls in both the Appleton Post Crescent and the Green Bay Press Gazette.
Career highlights include appearing on the Oprah Winfrey Show for a segment on television anchorwomen, anchoring live coverage of the Green Bay Packers Super Bowl wins in New Orleans and Dallas, and moderating a speaker series at the Weidner Center that let her rub elbows with such notables as Madeline Albright, Joan Rivers, Anna Quindlen and Maya Angelou.
Erin is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and a recipient of the school’s Communications Alumni of the Year Award.
As a liver transplant recipient, Erin is a frequent speaker on the importance of organ donation, reports stories on the subject, and volunteers her time for awareness campaigns. She is also a frequent volunteer for a number of charitable organizations in the community.
When she’s not working, Erin enjoys travelling with her husband Mike.
Erin Davisson co-anchors the 5, 6 & 10 pm newscasts on WFRV-TV with Tom Zalaski.
Erin is originally from Beloit, Wisconsin and started her TV news career in Wausau. She’s also worked as a reporter/announcer in both commercial and public radio. Erin has been at WFRV-TV since 1988.
Since beginning her career in Green Bay, Erin has won numerous reporting and anchoring awards, and has consistently been voted Best Anchor in newspaper polls in both the Appleton Post Crescent and the Green Bay Press Gazette.
Career highlights include appearing on the Oprah Winfrey Show for a segment on television anchorwomen, anchoring live coverage of the Green Bay Packers Super Bowl wins in New Orleans and Dallas, and moderating a speaker series at the Weidner Center that let her rub elbows with such notables as Madeline Albright, Joan Rivers, Anna Quindlen and Maya Angelou.
Erin is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and a recipient of the school’s Communications Alumni of the Year Award.
As a liver transplant recipient, Erin is a frequent speaker on the importance of organ donation, reports stories on the subject, and volunteers her time for awareness campaigns. She is also a frequent volunteer for a number of charitable organizations in the community.
When she’s not working, Erin enjoys travelling with her husband Mike.
My Story - Sophia Skrede, Grand Marshal 2014
My name is Sophia Skrede. I was born on March 13, 2013 and I am now 11 months old. These 11 months have not all been smooth. A matter of fact, much of my short life has been rough sailing. At the age of three months, the doctors found that I had an elevated bilirubin level, which indicated to the doctors that something wasn't quite right. At first the doctors hoped that my condition could be fixed with a simple medication. Unfortunately, things were a little more complicated and we found out that medication wasn't going to help. On June 25th, after many different tests, they found out that I had Biliary Atresia.
Biliary Atresia, also known as "extrahepatic ductopenia" and "progressive obliterative cholangiopathy" is a congenital or acquired disease of the liver. As a birth defect in newborn infants, it has an occurrence of 1/10,000 to 1/15,000 cases in live births in the United States. In the congenital form, the common bile duct between the liver and the small intestine is blocked or absent.
I had to have a 10 hour surgery to try to fix the Biliary Atresia. It only had a 10% chance of success, but my family was hopeful. I spent a week at Children’s Hospital recovering from the surgery, and everything seemed to be going well. Unfortunately, on the morning of July 2nd, I started vomiting and had to go to the ER. There they found out that my surgery had started coming undone, so I had to be transported to Children's Hospital in Milwaukee to have emergency surgery. I spent three days in the hospital here and found out that I would need a liver transplant.
My name is Sophia Skrede. I was born on March 13, 2013 and I am now 11 months old. These 11 months have not all been smooth. A matter of fact, much of my short life has been rough sailing. At the age of three months, the doctors found that I had an elevated bilirubin level, which indicated to the doctors that something wasn't quite right. At first the doctors hoped that my condition could be fixed with a simple medication. Unfortunately, things were a little more complicated and we found out that medication wasn't going to help. On June 25th, after many different tests, they found out that I had Biliary Atresia.
Biliary Atresia, also known as "extrahepatic ductopenia" and "progressive obliterative cholangiopathy" is a congenital or acquired disease of the liver. As a birth defect in newborn infants, it has an occurrence of 1/10,000 to 1/15,000 cases in live births in the United States. In the congenital form, the common bile duct between the liver and the small intestine is blocked or absent.
I had to have a 10 hour surgery to try to fix the Biliary Atresia. It only had a 10% chance of success, but my family was hopeful. I spent a week at Children’s Hospital recovering from the surgery, and everything seemed to be going well. Unfortunately, on the morning of July 2nd, I started vomiting and had to go to the ER. There they found out that my surgery had started coming undone, so I had to be transported to Children's Hospital in Milwaukee to have emergency surgery. I spent three days in the hospital here and found out that I would need a liver transplant.
I was put on the transplant list only a week after my work up in Chicago was completed. While waiting for a deceased donor, the testing process began for a living donor match. On Friday November 8th, my world was turned upside down with a simple knock at the door. The first potential donor was a match!!! Things started happening pretty quickly after that, and I had my liver transplant on December 30, 2013. Here I am with my donor, Kayla, soon after I had my surgery.
Life since the transplant has been full of tests and monitoring. I am doing really well! You can join my journey by going to my website at http://phiasmiles.wix.com/smilesforphia. I am looking forward to leading the 2014 Donate Life Wisconsin Walk on April 12th at Bay View Middle School. This organization has done amazing things for people who need organ transplantation . Now that I have my new liver, I am excited to help raise money for Donate Life so that I can help others like Ethan (see below) and I.
My Story - Ethan Burant, Grand Marshal 2013
Hi! My name is Ethan Burant and I had a liver transplant in 2010. I know you wouldn't guess that looking at me in this picture, but I was one sick kid back then. When I was three months old, I was diagnosed with a rare liver disease called Biliary Atresia. I had to undergo a lot of surgery before it was finally decided that I would have to have life-saving liver transplant.
Hi! My name is Ethan Burant and I had a liver transplant in 2010. I know you wouldn't guess that looking at me in this picture, but I was one sick kid back then. When I was three months old, I was diagnosed with a rare liver disease called Biliary Atresia. I had to undergo a lot of surgery before it was finally decided that I would have to have life-saving liver transplant.
Rollercoaster ride
Here in this picture where I'm sitting with my big brother, Connor, you can really see how jaundiced I was! This is because my liver was not functioning correctly. As I waited and waited to get a call from the Transplant List, I kept getting more and more yellow.
During this waiting period, our friends from Green Bay and our family and friends from Stevens Point pulled together and threw us two different benefits. This really helped with all the medical bills that were piling up! We also started getting more information from the Donate Life organization, which put us in contact with other families who have gone through what we were going through, helped us to understand how to handle all the medical expenses and were just there for us!
Luckily for me, my angel on Earth, my cousin, Adam Burant, came forward to be my living donor and on April 26, 2010, I got a liver transplant!
During this waiting period, our friends from Green Bay and our family and friends from Stevens Point pulled together and threw us two different benefits. This really helped with all the medical bills that were piling up! We also started getting more information from the Donate Life organization, which put us in contact with other families who have gone through what we were going through, helped us to understand how to handle all the medical expenses and were just there for us!
Luckily for me, my angel on Earth, my cousin, Adam Burant, came forward to be my living donor and on April 26, 2010, I got a liver transplant!
Surgery
Here I am one day post-operatively. These were scary times for Mom, Dad and Connor! My recovery took quite awhile, but slowly I got better and better!
Today I am a normal, everyday, sassy, almost 13-year old except that I have a big scar on my stomach and I still have to take a few medications. I don't know where I would be without the help of Donate Life, all of our family and friends.
That is why I will be at the Bay View Donate Life Walk on Saturday, April 9th, 2022 to walk with all of you! Please come and help support kids just like me live a normal life!
Today I am a normal, everyday, sassy, almost 13-year old except that I have a big scar on my stomach and I still have to take a few medications. I don't know where I would be without the help of Donate Life, all of our family and friends.
That is why I will be at the Bay View Donate Life Walk on Saturday, April 9th, 2022 to walk with all of you! Please come and help support kids just like me live a normal life!