As Educator in the Emergency and Urgent Care Center, Joy keeps staff ready to provide emergent care for all patients presenting to the department. This includes keeping abreast of the latest changes in nursing practice, supplies and occasionally physician preference.

In November, despite everyone's best medical efforts a woman in her 60s was not going to survive. Joy was in the department helping staff provide care and was aware of the Clinical Triggers that the patient was presenting and placed a call to the University of Wisconsin Organ Procurement. Although there was no family of this patient readily available, Joy advocated for her and her ability to share the gift of life with others. The patient's sisters were eventually reached and they agreed that their sister was always helping others and this indeed was what she would want. Because of this advocacy four people received the gift of life as our patient was able to donate her lungs, liver, kidneys and corneas. Her sisters wrote a letter of thanks sharing that they had a profound sense of peace and of giving with their sister's death. Thank you to Joy for being a strong patient advocate and sharing with the staff of the Emergency Department how important it is to understand the Clinical Triggers for Organ Procurement and the importance of Life.