Missy Rukamp holds a photo of her 15-year-old son Jackson, who donated tissue after he died unexpectedly in 2016, during an event to promote organ and tissue donation in Brown County July 13, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Brown County is encouraging its residents to become organ donors by sharing the story of one donor’s family.
Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach held a press conference Thursday with members of the American Tissue Services Foundation, the Brown County Medical Examiner’s Office and mother Missy Rukamp.
Rukamp is described as a strong advocate of donation, especially after her 15-year-old son, Jackson, died unexpectedly in 2016.
“It helps,” explained Rukamp. “It helps as you’re going through the grieving process to know that maybe there’s one little sliver of goodness that came out of your tragedy and your loss.”
Thanks to Jackson’s donation, at least 13 individuals have a better quality of life now.
Rukamp says that through the way Jackson lived his life, she knows he would have wanted to help others.
Click here to access the Wisconsin Donor Registry, where you can sign up to become a donor.
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