Donation Connection: UF Health’s Letitia Williams

“I’ve always been driven to help others, and that’s what guided me to nursing,” said Letitia Williams, UF Health 11-5 Neurosurgery Unit Clinical Leader.

In April 2015, Letitia’s professional and personal life unfortunately came together, as her sister, Desiree Miller, 31, was involved in a tragic car accident off Gainesville’s Tower Road. Desiree passed away on April 30 at UF Health Shands.

“Desiree was someone who was very dependable,” Letitia said. “She liked to help others, and she was driven by that. Not only did she like helping people, but we grew up on a farm in Bronson, and she loved animals, too.”

Upon her sister’s death, Letitia gained custody of Desiree’s two children, Autumn and Adam, who were 10 and 6 at the time of their mother’s death.

Desiree was registered as an organ donor. Her desire to help others carried on after her death, as she saved the lives of four patients, ranging in age from 12 to 53, through the donation of her heart, liver and both kidneys.

“Now that we’ve gone through personal experience with organ donation, it feels good knowing our loss has helped others go on in life,” Letitia said. “Although we lost Desiree, she’s able to help other families. Her death also inspired other family members to register as donors, and they probably would have never thought about registering before.”