The Saint Xavier University School of Nursing and Health Sciences hosted a Donate Life program April 21 at the Warde Academic Center, combining education with a deeply personal story of loss, generosity and lifesaving impact.
Held in the fourth-floor boardroom at 12:30 p.m., the program featured a presentation from “Gifted: The Docuseries,” with a focus on Part 3, which centers on Maddie “Maddog” Grobmeier, the daughter of Saint Xavier communication professor Cynthia Grobmeier, Ed.D.
Maddie died just days before her 18th birthday following a sudden asthma attack. In the wake of her passing, her family made the decision to donate her organs, eyes and tissues — a choice that ultimately changed the trajectory of 16 lives.
“The Saint Xavier community was there for us when Maddie passed; being able to share this is a gift back to them,” Grobmeier said. She also noted the significance of the program being hosted by the School of Nursing and Health Sciences. “Being able to share this with nursing students means so much to us,” she said.
The docuseries segment offered an intimate perspective on Maddie’s life and legacy through her mother’s voice, highlighting both the family’s grief and the far-reaching impact of her donation. Her gifts extended beyond her immediate community, reaching recipients across the country and internationally.
Grobmeier introduced the program and remained for a question-and-answer session following the screening, speaking with students and attendees about advocacy, grief and the importance of donor registration.
The event also featured guest speakers Shaun Martin, MBA, CTBS, vice president of tissue operations for Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Donor Network and a donor father, and Rich Catezone of the Illinois Secretary of State’s Life Goes On program, who also shared his perspective as a transplant recipient.
According to Donate Life America, approximately 2.5 million tissue transplants were performed in the United States in 2025. In Illinois alone, more than 2,500 people donated tissue that year. A single tissue donor can heal up to 75 individuals, underscoring the broad impact of donation.
Refreshments were served as attendees reflected on the stories shared, leaving with a message reinforced throughout the program: that even in tragedy, one decision can create lasting hope, healing and life.
“Gifted: The Docuseries” is not streaming on Vimeo.
