Gift of Life Michigan welcomed CBS News inside its Ann Arbor facility last summer, giving viewers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the organ donation process as part of a national spotlight on this lifesaving work. The segment aired on the CBS Evening News on April 14 and was accompanied by a powerful documentary, A Final Gift, now available online.
Both pieces, reported by CBS Investigative Correspondent Tom Hanson, highlight the critical role organ procurement organizations (OPOs) like Gift of Life Michigan play in organ recovery and transplantation. CBS was given unprecedented access to follow the process from start to finish—capturing the expertise, emotion and teamwork involved in honoring the decision of donors and saving the lives of patients in need.
“We were honored to welcome CBS to see our work firsthand and what we do for others,” said Dorrie Dils, President and CEO of Gift of Life Michigan. “Each donation involves hundreds of people doing their jobs at the highest level.”
Both pieces follow the story of Mitch Potter, a generous donor from Gobles, Michigan, whose decision to donate saved four lives. The Evening News segment also features Melanie Uzarek of Allen Park, a kidney transplant candidate who has waited over three years for her chance at a lifesaving match.
CBS explores not only the recovery process but also the broader challenges in the transplant system, including the issue of organ nonuse. Despite OPOs like Gift of Life recovering transplantable organs, 21% go unused. Dils addressed this directly in her interview, calling for better alignment between the federal government, donor hospitals, OPOs and transplant centers.
“OPOs, donor hospitals and transplant centers have always worked together to save lives, and everyone wants to save even more,” said Dils. “But we can’t do this unless the federal government aligns all parts of the system to make sure every transplantable organ gets used.”
Fortunately, progress is being made. Thanks to deeper collaboration with Michigan transplant centers, Gift of Life has already seen a reduction in organ nonuse in 2025. Meanwhile, the number of patients dying while waiting for a transplant in Michigan has dropped by 45%—from 152 in 2020 to just 83 in 2024.
The coverage by CBS is a powerful reminder of how one donor’s decision can ripple outward to change—and save—lives. Gift of Life Michigan is proud to have its work featured so prominently.
Watch the CBS Evening News segment and full 23-minute documentary, A Final Gift (below), to see the lasting impact one donor can make.
More than 2,600 Michigan patients are waiting for a lifesaving organ. The best way to save lives is by joining the Michigan Organ Donor Registry. Visit golm.org/signup hoy dia.