Tod Kowalczyk wants students, faculty and staff at The University of Toledo to recognize the importance of being an organ donor. <\/p>\n
That\u2019s why the UT men\u2019s head basketball coach is sharing a story as part of a campaign for Donate Life Ohio, an organization that is partnering with several UT students to promote Organ Donation Awareness Month during April. <\/p>\n
Several years ago, Kowalczyk received alarming news about his close friend and colleague at Marquette University, Coach Trey Schwab. Hired within a month of each other, the two coaches joined the Marquette family, but shortly after, Schwab developed a rare lung disease and was in need of a double lung transplant in order to save his life. <\/p>\n
Schwab was put on a transplant waiting list for almost four years until receiving the overwhelming news that he was eligible to receive the greatest gift of all: the gift of life. <\/p>\n
After a near death experience, Schwab recovered from the transplant and now is the outreach coordinator of Donate Life Wisconsin. <\/p>\n
Kowalczyk journeyed through this life-changing experience with his friend and is grateful that his life was saved by the selflessness of a stranger. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat surprises me is the gratitude of the families that receive such a gift, and rightfully so,\u201d Kowalczyk said.<\/p>\n
httpv:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=A_29xhyi5kY<\/p>\n
Prior to this experience, Kowalczyk was an organ donor; however, he was not as well informed as he is today. <\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t know much about organ donation before I met Trey, but since then it\u2019s always been something that is very dear to me,\u201d he said. \u201cEvery place I\u2019ve been, I try to promote it. I talk to my team about it, and I don\u2019t talk to my team about many topics outside of academics, their lives and basketball. This is one area that I really stress to my players; I want them to be involved and to be organ donors.\u201d <\/p>\n
Kowalczyk said he didn\u2019t have any major misconceptions about organ and tissue donation, but, like so many, did not know enough about this life-saving topic. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to get the word out there. I think it\u2019s something that everyone should do; there is no reason not to,\u201d Kowalczyk said. <\/p>\n
He hopes that Donate Life Ohio can help dispel the misconceptions of organ donation and encourages students, faculty and staff to sign up to become organ donors. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhen someone can impact so many different families and save lives, that\u2019s the coolest thing you can be a part of,\u201d Kowalczyk said. \u201cI think that college campuses are a great place to get the word out about organ donation. Let\u2019s face it, college-aged students are the next generation and informing them about the cause will provide organ donors for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Donate Life Ohio representatives, along with several UT students and staff, can be found around campus this month with the trademark \u201cBig Green Chair\u201d and are offering the opportunity for you to save a life and to sign up to become an organ donor. <\/p>\n