'It makes it real': Area doctors hope Grammys Song of the Year winner brings awareness to organ donation

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Perhaps the most surprising, and surprised winner of the 2023 Grammy Awards was singer Bonnie Raitt whose song 'Just Like That' won the Grammy for Song of the Year.

"I'm so surprised," Raitt said on stage accepting her award. "They (other nominees) were just massively talented, great tunes."

Raitt beat out the likes of Harry Styles, Taylor Swift and Adele for the top honor. Her song, a slow, heartfelt ballad, shares the story of a mother who meets the man whose life was saved by her son's death and organ donation.

"I was so inspired for this song by the incredible story of love and the grace and the generosity of someone who donates their beloved's organs to help another person live," Raitt said during her speech. "I don't write a lot of songs, but I'm just so proud you appreciate this one."

According to the Organ Procurement & Transplantation Network, as of Feb. 5, 2023, 104,203 people are on the wait list for an organ donation. In 2022, 42,888 transplants were performed, with over 36,000 of them coming from a deceased donor.

"It's (the song) great for organ donation. It's great for transplant recipients, but it actually really honors the donors," explained Dr. Ajay Sahajpal, transplant medical director at Aurora St. Luke's. "Everyone thinks about the recipients who are very sick and need lifesaving transplants, but generally speaking, for somebody else to live, someone typically has to die. That piece never really gets talked about and this brought some of that to light as well."

Doctor Terra Pearson is a transplant surgeon with Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin. She agrees with Dr. Sahajpal, indicating that not only does Raitt's song discuss an important part of organ donation, it helps make listeners aware.

"What this does is it brings it to the limelight," Dr. Pearson said. "It makes it (organ donation) real now."

While both doctors admit it can be challenging for grieving families to think about saving someone else with their loved one's organs, the selfless decision can make a huge impact on a number of other families.

"One donor can save up to eight lives, but even with that, they can enhance up to 75 lives with tissue donation and eye donation and tendon donation," Dr. Pearson said. "Their death will no longer be in vain because now they can live on and save other people."

"It's just amazing how people come forward and they do that, even at this dark time," Dr. Sahajpal said. "It really talks about the kindness of humanity."

For those interested in signing up to be an organ donor, you can do so when renewing your license at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

You can also visit https://donatelifewisconsin.org/ or https://www.froedtert.com/donatelife for more information.