Congratulations to Janet Kimsey, a recipient of the Gift of Hope’s 2015 Lifesaving Partners Award! Janet, an RN in the Immediate Care Unit of Swedish Covenant Hospital, was one of only 17 award recipients recognized by Gift of Hope for their contributions to saving and enhancing lives of patients through organ and tissue donation. 

As a charge nurse in the IMCU, Janet took personal ownership of an education program at Swedish Covenant Hospital to increase donation, and the results were astounding. “Referrals from Swedish Covenant quadrupled, and under Janet's leadership the hospital has not missed a patient referral since 2012,” said Susan Shapiro, the Gift of Hope Donation Coordinator who nominated Kimsey for the award. “Janet is passionate about this cause and she is a truly deserving Lifesaving Partner of Gift of Hope."

Janet’s care is inspired by a compassion for others, rather than a desire for distinction. “She is highly intelligent and a highly compassionate leader of her unit who is greatly respected by her colleagues of all disciplines,” said Christine Simms, Assistant Nurse Manager of the IMCU. “She is also very humble and insists that she didn’t do anything to be worthy of recognition.” Though honored by the award, Janet hopes the attention she receives will be focused on Gift of Hope.

Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network is a not-for-profit organ procurement organization entrusted by the nation's healthcare system with coordinating organ and tissue donation and providing donor family services and public education in Illinois and northwest Indiana.