When Scott and Tina met, Tina was working as a teller at a bank.  In 1991, Tina came home one night and was frustrated with her job and wanted to pursue a different career.  Scott asked what she wanted to do and she said confidently that she wanted to be a nurse.  Tina applied during late registration to NWTC for the nursing program and was accepted to start the upcoming semester.  Once she got her nursing degree she started working at HSHS St. Vincent ICU/IMCU.  Tina successfully completed her BSN, at Marion University, while going through 2 pregnancies with her second and third children.  In 2013, Tina was promoted to the manager of the St. Vincent 6th floor ICU, where they went through multiple expansions with the help of her colleagues.

Tina encouraged her colleagues and teammates when challenged to think outside the box to come up with the best solution.  Promoting education within the workplace, including herself to continuously try to learn from each patient and colleague, to be a better leader and provide the best care she could to her patients.

Making sure the patients were taken care of even if it meant working late and over holidays.  She would always say, “These people are counting on us as health care professionals to help them on their hardest days, and I can’t just walk away.”

In December 2022, Tina was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, and less than a year later in November of 2023 she passed away with her family by her side.  As she was going through treatments and surgeries, with her colleagues incredible support, Tina continued to work to contribute to the day to day operations for her team and patients of St. Vincent Hospital, even as a patient herself.

Unfortunately, due to her recent cancer history, Tina was unable to be an organ donor.  However, as our family and friends thought over how we can honor her memory and what Tina would want us to do, we knew we wanted to continue Tina’s mission in supporting Organ and Tissue donation, even when she’s not here.  Tina’s brother, Rick passed away unexpectedly in June 2011, and was an organ donor through multiple donations.  She had a passion for the Organ and Tissue Donation program at UW-Madison, as she wanted people to be able to have a second chance at life and hoped to create some fulfillment to the families and loved ones who passed and was able to provide that second chance to live on in someone else.  We are grateful to be able to continue Tina’s mission and partner with UW Organ and Tissue Donation to bring awareness.