This Friday evening OnMilwaukee and FM/102.1 will host a fish fry dinner fundraiser for Donate Life Wisconsin at O'Lydia's in Walker's Point featuring the world's first fish fry eating contest. Donate Life will be at the event to register people as donors. Please join us.

I really thought I was an organ donor because I signed the back of my driver's license and had the "dot" sticker on the front. But, it turns out, when I checked in with donatelifewisconsin.org, I was not registered as a donor.

A representative of the organization told me that there was a change in the database about a decade ago and anyone who had not registered since would most likely no longer be listed as a donor. And so I registered online immediately and, although I’m not one to "should" all over people, I really think you should, too.

This summer, I documented the story of Linda Sackett, a hardworking business owner in Milwaukee whose son recently gave her one of his kidneys. The beautiful irony of the story is that she was warned by her doctor not to give birth because of her kidney condition, and 28 years later, the child saved her life with a healthy organ.

"My kidney is going to outlive me," Sackett told OnMilwaukee.

In July, coworkers and I celebrated the "Kidneyversary" of my friends, Judges Derek Mosley and JoAnn Eiring. Eiring donated one of her kidneys to Derek and both are doing very well exactly one year later. It’s inspirational to witness such caring and commitment from one friend to another and also fascinating that a petite woman’s kidney can function fully in a larger-built man’s body.

I was extremely moved by these two firsthand experiences. I hope this encourages you to register, or re-register.

"It's important to remember that living donors (for kidneys) are always needed, as well," says Eiring.

It’s really easy to register online, and they send you a nice certificate acknowledging your promise of donation. 

Here is a FB Live from last summer’s "Kidneyversary" event: