In honor of April being National Donate Life Month, a TDS Telecommunications LLC (TDS®) associate is sharing the inspiring story of his sister as a heartfelt tribute to her life and the power of organ donation. TDS Telecom cherishes the integrity demonstrated by our associates, and this story beautifully demonstrates this shared value.
In October 2021, TDS Telecom Lead Software Engineer Mike Crook received a life-altering phone call from the Juneau County (Wisconsin) Sheriff’s Department. His younger sister, Kara, was in critical condition with a serious brain injury. Due to the severity of her injuries, she was flown to a hospital in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Without hesitation, Mike drove from Madison to La Crosse to be by his sister’s side, calling family members along the way. When he arrived, Kara was unconscious, but she occasionally squeezed his hand, giving him a glimmer of hope. Sadly, that hope began to fade as doctors confirmed that the swelling in Kara’s brain was too much to overcome.
Amid the depths of sadness and grief, Mike and his family were presented with an opportunity to give others a chance to live—organ donation. Kara’s oldest daughter, Gianna, was just 16 at the time. Despite her young age, Gigi showed remarkable maturity and chose to donate her mother’s organs, honoring Kara’s wish to give back so that others might live.
“Gigi told me her mother always wanted to help people,” Crook said. “We knew if there was any way she could still make a difference, she’d want to do it. So, we decided to move forward and help as many people as possible.”
To commemorate Kara’s selflessness, the hospital arranged an “honor walk,” a silent procession where family members and hospital staff lined the hallways as Kara was transported to the operating room. Before the procedure, the lead surgeon shared a heartfelt letter from the family, honoring Kara’s life and decision to give hope to others.
“Throughout the process, the donor organization, Versiti, treated us with compassion and respect,” Mike shared. “They made sure Kara’s legacy and her kindness would live on.”
Kara’s donations changed the lives of six people across the Midwest:
- One of her kidneys went to a young mother in Minnesota.
- Her other kidney and pancreas were donated to a woman in Wisconsin, freeing her from dialysis and insulin dependency.
- Her heart, liver, and lungs gave patients in Minnesota a second chance to live.
- Her knee cartilage was used to help a man walk again.
One of the recipients, a young mother with a 2-year-old, wrote Mike and his family a letter to express her gratitude. “She told us her greatest joy was finally having the strength and energy to spend time with her child,” Mike recalled. “That meant so much to us, and Kara helped make it possible.”
Not a day goes by that Mike and his family don’t think about Kara. Since her passing, Mike and his other sister, Keely, Kara’s twin, have stepped in to care for Gianna, helping her through the end of high school and now college. Today, Gianna is studying psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville with dreams of helping others navigate through trauma and healing.
“She’s been through so much, but she’s grown into this incredibly strong and compassionate young woman,” Mike said proudly. “We know Kara would be so proud of her daughter.”
Kara’s story is a painful reminder of how quickly life can change—but it’s also a testament to how one act of generosity can transform the lives of others. “Even in the darkest moment, there was still a way for Kara to make a difference,” Mike said. “Going through this experience, it doesn’t take away the pain. But knowing all the good Kara was able to do, that’s something truly beautiful.”
Kara’s final gift was one of hope. Through the selfless act of organ donation, she has given others a second chance to live. Mike and his family find solace in knowing Kara’s kindness and compassion have made a lasting impact, becoming a beacon of hope for others
