Sometimes the greatest expression of gratitude is ensuring someone else has the same opportunity to receive care and support. Healthcare philanthropy makes those moments possible by connecting altruistic donors with patients and families when they need it most.

Through a generous gift from their donor-advised fund (DAF), one family chose to pay forward the compassion they experienced at University Health, helping ensure others can benefit from the same exceptional care that made such a difference in their daughter’s life.

“We felt like if we had the ability to help, we had a responsibility to do it,” said Michele Marshall, a University Health Foundation donor. “If someone else can benefit because we were able to give back, then that’s the whole point.”

With her daughter living independently in Uvalde, Texas, Southern Indiana native Michele’s daily life had settled into a steady rhythm. She spent her days teaching writing composition at local universities and running a microbusiness that created weaving patterns for magazines. Through it all, she remained a devoted mother, the kind of person you would want in your corner when life became difficult.

But nothing could have prepared her for what came next.

In 2021, Michele received a heart-stopping phone call from her daughter’s best friend telling her that her daughter had been in a serious accident and was being airlifted to University Hospital, the only Level I Trauma Center in South Texas. Without hesitation, Michele grabbed what she could, got in her car and began the 20-hour drive to San Antonio to be by her daughter’s side.

When she arrived, Michele was relieved to learn that the University Health care team welcomed her to stay at her daughter’s bedside every night throughout her hospitalization. Over the following weeks, her daughter received exceptional, compassionate care, including several days in the intensive care unit followed by a month-long stay in the acute care unit.

Looking back, Michele says the experience left her with a profound sense of gratitude for the dedicated care and support her family received.

“When you’re there for a month, you get to know people,” Michele said. “What stood out to me the most was the grace. There is treating people because you have to, and then there is treating people like human beings.”

As her daughter fought to recover, Michele and her family also faced another overwhelming challenge. Because her daughter did not have health insurance, they worried about how they would afford the mounting medical bills.

During that difficult time, Michele learned about a patient assistance grant offered by University Health that would help cover a portion of her daughter’s medical expenses, easing some of the financial burden so the family could focus on her recovery.

Although the grant provided much-needed relief, Michele and her husband never forgot the compassion they experienced throughout their daughter’s care. Years later, knowing the University Health care team had provided outstanding care despite the uncertainty surrounding reimbursement, they felt inspired to give back.

In 2026, through their donor-advised fund, the Marshalls made a $10,000 gift to University Health Foundation to help ensure other patients and families facing unexpected hardships could receive the same support they had received.

“As we looked back on everything that happened, we realized the hospital had done so much for our family, yet we knew they weren’t being fully reimbursed for the care they provided,” Michele said. “We didn’t feel right walking away without giving something back.”

DAFs have become one of the fastest-growing charitable giving vehicles in the United States. They allow individuals and families like the Marshalls to make charitable contributions, receive an immediate tax deduction and recommend grants to nonprofit organizations over time. For many donors, DAFs offer a flexible and thoughtful way to support the causes that matter most while creating a lasting impact.

If you are interested in learning more about DAFs, please contact University Health Foundation at Foundation@uhtx.com or visit www.UniversityHealth.com/foundation. You can also make a donation online.