Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Donor Network is the Organ Procurement Organization that is Federally regulated to supports three quarters of Illinois and the Northwest part of Indiana for organ and tissue donation. 

The Kendall County Coroner’s office works closely with Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network. Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network is the not-for-profit organ procurement organization (OPO) that coordinates organ and tissue donation and provides public education on donation in Illinois and northwest Indiana. As one of 56 OPOs that make up the nation’s organ donation system, Gift of Hope works with 180 hospitals and serves 12 million people in its donation service area. 

Tissue donation enhances and saves thousands of lives each year by repairing heart defects, healing burns, restoring sight, and replacing joints.  Many family members who have experienced the death of a loved one find comfort in knowing that they were able to provide new life to others through tissue donation. It is the goal of the Kendall County Coroner's Office to ensure that the loved ones of an eligible tissue donor are connected to Gift of Hope as soon as possible to ensure that they have the best chance of sharing the gift of life with those in need.

In December 2022, the Coroner's Office switched to a new case management system that allows certain case information to be electronically referred to Gift of Hope for review.  If the decedent could be a donor, Gift of Hope will reach out to family to discuss their options, answer any questions, and perform a screening over the phone.  The referral process is automatic, and Gift of Hope will contact eligible family members within a few hours, up to 24 hours of the Coroner's Office being notified.

What should I expect?

If your loved one is determined to be a potential candidate for tissue donation, you will receive a call from Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network, which coordinates organ and tissue donation in our area. The phone number you will see when they call is (630)758-2600. Please answer this important call.

The Gift of Hope representative will provide information about your loved one's authorization for donation and ask about your loved one's medical and social history, family history, recent travel, and medication/drug use. This is also the time that you can ask any questions about the donation process or express any concerns regarding donation. After the call, if your loved one is a potential eye donor, the representative will coordinate with Eversight, our eye bank partner. Both organizations will then determine whether your loved one is medically suitable as a donor and will notify you of their decision.

What happens if my loved one is able to donate?

If they are medically suitable to be a tissue donor and donation has been authorized, Gift of Hope will coordinate with our staff to have them transported to Gift of Hope facility for tissue recovery at no cost to the family. After the tissue recovery procedure is completed and if no autopsy is scheduled, Gift of Hope will transport your loved one to a funeral home of your choosing. If an autopsy still needs to be performed, your loved one will then be transported to the Coroner's Office.

If your loved one cannot be a tissue donor but is suitable as an eye donor, Eversight will perform the recovery at our facility.  After donation, your loved one will remain at the Coroner's Office until a funeral home is chosen.

Will donation affect funeral arrangements?

Generally, tissue donation will not delay or affect your funeral plans, including your decision to have an open vs. closed viewing. If you have specific concerns or requests, they should be expressed to the Gift of Hope representative when they call to discuss donation.

Why is my loved one not eligible to be an organ donor?

The decision to be an organ, tissue and eye donor or to authorize donation for a loved one is a compassionate one that can leave a legacy of hope for others. The opportunity is rare but very special.

There are many reasons someone may not become a donor but a few are related to time and place of death.

Organ donation must occur almost immediately after death for organs to remain viable for a potential recipient. This means that an individual must already be in a hospital setting with advanced medical support until recovery occurs. 

Tissue donation does not have the same restrictions. In some cases, tissue recovery may be possible up to 24 hours after an individual has passed.

For more information on Organ and Tissue donation, or to register as an Organ and Tissue donor, please visit our Organ & Tissue Donation Information Page.