Wyoming Driver Services Employee Shares Personal Connection to Donation

During DMV Appreciation Week, we join our counterparts around the country to honor the staff at Colorado and Wyoming Driver License offices for all of their hard work and efforts towards raising awareness of and increasing registrations for organ, eye and tissue donation. Nearly 200 Wyomingites await a life-saving transplant. Kely Nelson, staff member at Worland, Basin and Thermopolis Driver License offices, has a special connection to donation and that tie motivates her to educate others. To Kely, registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor is what Heroes do!

Kely’s Story

“In 1986, my Grandpa was on the waiting list for a kidney for a number of years. As a kid, we made the hour trip with him 3 days a week to the hospital to go to his dialysis treatments. He had numerous surgeries due to his kidney disease and we prayed often for a donor to make life better for him. One day the call came and my Grandpa was air lifted to Minneapolis, MN (4 1/2 hours away by car), my mom and my aunt were allowed to go with. I was ten at the time but it was the most exciting and scary thing ever at that point in my life.”

“We then made multiple trips to see my Grandpa, as he was in Minneapolis for recovery for many months after that. I even got to be in Minneapolis to see the party in the streets when the Twins won the 7th game of World Series in 1987. I stood outside the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome with my Grandpa, when Kirby Puckett hit the game winning home run…memories I never would have had without that donor!! Because of the selflessness of that person my Grandpa lived another 6 years. I am grateful for every extra day we had with him.”

To support organ, eye and tissue donation in Wyoming, please register here. On average, 98% of donor registrations in the U.S. come through the DMV and Driver License partner transactions. We thank all Driver License staff for their continued work towards increasing the number of registered organ, eye and tissue donors.