Gift of Life

After Karl passed away, Juliet, Karl’s oldest sister, was moved by Karl’s medical donation and decided to do a drive to get people to sign up for Gift of Life.  This is her speech.

Hello, I am Juliet Stockhausen Culp and I want to tell you a little bit about giving the Gift of Life by being an organ, tissue and eye donor.

Did you know signing the back of your driver’s license to be a donor is no longer valid?

Did you know there is no age or medical condition that excludes you from signing up to be a donor? (the oldest donor in MI was over 90)

Did you know that if you want an open casket there is no outward indication that you were a donor?

Did you know that by law, only after a patient is officially deceased can they find out if that patient was a donor?

Do you have a red heart on your diver’s license above your photo? My youngest brother did.

Dr. Karl Stockhausen wanted to spend his life in the service of healing others, which included being an organ, tissue and eye donor.  He was 24 years old and in medical school when he was afflicted by AMPPPE, a rare eye disease that left him with blind spots in both eyes.  This did not deter him; he kept on with medical school.  At 26 he was diagnosed with cancer, he finished and graduated medical school while battling the cancer for two years until he died three years ago this weekend at the age of 28.  The cancer took his life, but it did not diminish his will to be of service to others.

Even with the eye condition and the cancer he was able to donate his corneas and gave sight to a man in Battle Creek, Michigan and a woman in New Milford, New Jersey.  He donated his body to the University of Michigan Medical School.  His choice to be a donor was the ultimate gift and changed their lives forever.

Take this weekend to choose to save a life, and talk to your family about organ, tissue and eye donation.  We each have the power to change the world...to give hope to others through the gifts of life, sight and mobility. Please think about organ, tissue and eye donation and consider signing up on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry.  My family will be available outside to answer questions, provide brochures or sign up anyone interested.

It takes less than 30 seconds.

If you live in Michigan please consider signing up for the Michigan Organ Donor Registry here.