2017 Sandi Gerwin

SANDI GERWIN

Donor Family

Age 38 ~ Wixom, Michigan

Donation Advocate, Homeschooling Mother

Honored by promethera.com

Sandi Gerwin is very grateful to ride on this year’s float in honor of her daughter, Paige Frances Gerwin, who died March 21, 2012. During the first trimester of pregnancy, Sandi and her husband, Eric, learned that their child had anencephaly (a neural tube defect where the brain and skull don’t fully develop). The Gerwins cherished Paige through a full-term pregnancy and then an additional 14 hours after birth. Throughout the pregnancy the Gerwins knew that they wanted to donate Paige’s organs, knowing their daughter didn’t need her organs in heaven. They were able to donate Paige’s liver cells to Cytonet (now Promethera). In addition to her donation advocacy, Sandi is also a homeschooling mom to her 3 living children (6-year-old twins and a 3-year-old).

Sandi’s Story

Sandi Gerwin is very grateful to ride on this year’s float in honor of her daughter, Paige Frances Gerwin, who died March 21, 2012. During the first trimester of pregnancy, Sandi and her husband, Eric, learned that their child had anencephaly (a neural tube defect where the brain and skull don’t fully develop). Although this was devastating news, they chose to embrace every single moment they had with their child. The Gerwins cherished Paige through a full-term pregnancy and then an additional 14 hours after birth. Those 14 hours are the most treasured hours of their lives! Throughout the pregnancy the Gerwins knew that they wanted to donate Paige’s organs, knowing their daughter didn’t need her organs in heaven. They wanted Paige’s organs to be used to help others. They were able to donate Paige’s liver cells to Cytonet (now Promethera). The Gerwins take every opportunity to encourage others in neonatal situations to seek out Gift of Life options for their own children. In addition to her donation advocacy, Sandi is also a homeschooling mom to her 3 living children (6-year-old twins and a 3-year-old).