Angel Awards: Volunteer of the Year, Courtney Kaplan, Advocate for Life, Nevada Donor Network

Courtney Kaplan (Wade Vandervort / Staff)

Turning an extremely personal experience into a lifelong dedication to helping others is the truest sense of advocacy – and exactly what Courtney Kaplan has done.

In 2019, Kaplan received a call that any parent fears. Her son Michael suffered a traumatic brain injury – one that comes with only a 5% chance of recovery. Michael had a passion for life and had made the decision to do what he could to share all the beauty it holds, even after life, by being an organ donor. With the help of staff at University Medical Center, Kaplan was connected to the Nevada Donor Network.

“We soon learned of the nine families matched to Michael’s gifts of life,” Kaplan said. “Our family received hope, strength and sharing the life of Michael that continues to this day.” 

Having experienced “survivor’s guilt” herself, Kaplan is in the unique position of serving as a volunteer advocate for the Nevada Donor Network to help other donor and recipient families as they traverse this difficult and emotional time. She has turned her loss into a vehicle to educate and inspire others.

“My grief has the opportunity to turn the power of my love for Michael into the power other families need to carry on without a loved one,” Kaplan said. “Volunteering is one way I can educate and bring awareness to the beauty of organ, tissue and eye donation.”  

Kaplan is also a health care professional who supports families with palliative comfort care and end-of-life support at Covenant Hospice and Covenant Kids Hospice. She pulls from this experience as she volunteers at outreach events, speaks to families, serves as a media spokesperson and works passionately to raise awareness of Nevada Donor Network’s mission and efforts in the community.

“The experience of losing Michael, while celebrating the lives that continue, inspires my unwavering support for those pre- and post-transplantation patients and families,” Kaplan said. “My goal continues to encourage our community and state to provide a fully operational transplant center here in Las Vegas.” 

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