Michigan donor mom will ride on Donate Life Rose Parade float; Gift of Life, Promethera helped family donate newborn’s cells for research

sandi_gerwin

ANN ARBOR, MI— Promethera Biosciences LLC is joining Gift of Life Michigan to become an important part of the 2017 Donate Life Rose Parade float, Teammates in Life, on January 2, 2017, in Pasadena, California. Promethera, a regenerative medicine company targeting liver diseases, is sponsoring a Michigan woman, Sandi Gerwin, to ride on the float, which promotes organ, tissue and eye donation.

In March 2012, Gerwin and her husband, Eric, worked with Gift of Life Michigan to donate the liver cells of their newborn daughter, Paige, to Promethera, so that their loss could mean a better future for others.

“We are so grateful for the generosity of the Gerwins, and proud to sponsor Sandi to ride on the Donate Life float,” said Mark Johnston, COO of Promethera Biosciences LLC. “Their daughter Paige lived a brief life, but her gifts and the gifts of others like her will have a lasting impact on many as we research better ways to combat liver disease.”

During the first trimester of pregnancy, Sandi and Eric Gerwin, of Wixom, Michigan, learned that their child had anencephaly, a neural tube defect where the brain and skull don’t fully develop. Although this was devastating news, they embraced every single moment they had with their child. The Gerwins cherished Paige through a full-term pregnancy and then for the additional 14 hours she lived after birth.

“Those 14 hours are the most treasured hours of our lives,” Sandi said. “We knew Paige didn’t need her organs in heaven. So we had worked with Gift of Life Michigan and Promethera to make donation possible. We were able to donate Paige’s liver cells.”

Gift of Life Michigan is the state’s organ and tissue recovery organization. “Stories like the Gerwins’ are both heartbreaking and uplifting,” said Gift of Life CEO Dorrie Dils. “To think of helping others in the midst of incredible loss demonstrates their love for their daughter and also their generosity. We are honored to help families like the Gerwins and to collaborate with partners like Promethera to make miracles possible.”

Now in its 14th year, the Donate Life Rose Parade float is the centerpiece of a national effort of more than 50 organizations that have teamed up to reach a broad audience with the simple, life-giving message that organ, eye, and tissue donation saves and heals lives.

#####

EDITOR’S NOTES:

  • There are nearly 3,600 people in Michigan and over 120,000 nationwide in need of a life-saving organ transplant.
  • Anyone can join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry, regardless of age or health history. Go to GiftOfLifeMichigan.org or call (866) 500-5801.

Read More Posts

Steven Dye with his wife, child and Jaime, his living kidney donor.

Steven

One act of kindness, impacted Steven, Larry  and Jamie’s friends, family and the communities they…

Read More

Transplant House of West Michigan

Tracy and Holly’s experience as transplant recipients inspired them to give back to their community…

Read More

Chadapron ‘Guy’

Through art, community, and the spirit of giving, Palee Haney from Kalamazoo found a way…

Read More
Kendall Todd received a heart transplant shortly after being added to the national waiting list.

“We are so grateful for them. They didn’t have to donate. They chose to.” 

When Cewanda Todd was 19-weeks pregnant, she was told her unborn daughter had a heart…

Read More
15th annual Kountz Callender Drew Transplant Symposium

Detroit MOTTEP and Gift of Life Michigan host 15th annual Kountz Callender Drew Transplant Symposium, March 19

Event focuses on reflective voices, riveting results and revolutionary future in transplantation The Detroit MOTTEP…

Read More
Dr. Alfred Bolden and Rev. Dr. Remonia Chapman

30 Years of Detroit MOTTEP – The beginning of building community, hope and trust

Dr. Alfred Bolden’s involvement with organ, eye and tissue donation started over thirty years ago…

Read More
Scroll to Top