Georgia Poplawski, Donor Wife
Georgia Poplawski, a donor wife and donation advocate from Pensacola, has contributed to the overall success and promotion of tissue and organ donation by opening her heart and formulating her thoughts into words.
She speaks to crowded rooms filled with strangers who are gathered to remember loved ones and comfort each other by sharing memories and experiences.
Poplawski, usually adorned in purple, chooses words that allow the audience to get inside her mind. She invites listeners to join her on a journey of love, heartbreak and courage.
She became a volunteer through Southeast Tissue Alliance’s “Share” program, which gave Poplawski a new direction after her husband died.
“When my husband was gone, it felt like he took everything with him that meant anything to me. This is my way of gaining some direction back in my life,” Poplawski said.
She feels that part of being effective when promoting tissue and organ donation is the “vocal part”. Talking to many people and different kinds of people is how to spread the word, she said.
Poplawski feels her biggest contribution to the cause has been speaking to crowds of donor families, friends and community members.
“I share a story about two people who love each other deeply and how I lost myself for awhile because I didn’t know how to deal with the pain when my husband died,” Poplawski said. “But it is also my way of educating the uninformed and reinforcing those who are already involved in the program.”
Read more of the stories of some individuals who have been touched by donation.
Christa Chappel | Dale Hiedeman | Georgia Poplawski | Paula Ryder | Cole Diepersloot
