Most of us can recall a moment when we extended kindness to someone else, whether it was paying for a stranger’s meal, checking in on a friend during a difficult time, donating to a cause, volunteering or simply offering a listening ear. But when life places someone like Michael Wilson, a devoted father and philanthropic consultant, on the receiving end of that generosity, the experience can be both humbling and life-changing.

“Philanthropy went from something I believed in professionally to something that changed my family’s life personally,” Michael said.

Each day, University Health Foundation works tirelessly to raise money to deliver life-saving resources and transform lives on a tremendous scale. Every person or organization who donates, every funded program and every resource made possible through the support of donors, is a direct tie to improving the lives of others.

In 2023, in their hometown of Fort Worth, Michael and his wife began searching for answers to their daughter Micah’s frequent nosebleeds, which were happening more than once a day and lasting up to 30 minutes. As any concerned parents would do, they took their daughter to the emergency room. Testing revealed that she had a genetic disorder called autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease and hepatic fibrosis, a progressive scarring of the liver.

Ultimately, after several procedures, doctors informed the family that there was only one option left. Micah needed a liver transplant, and they landed in the hands of University Health in San Antonio.

There were clear reasons why Micah was referred to University Health, including it being known as a leading liver transplant program and its distinction as the only hospital in South Texas performing pediatric liver transplants and living donor surgeries. Yet even with these considerations, Michael believes their journey cannot be explained by the hospital’s reputation alone. To him, every step that led them there was guided by something greater, like a compass that was pointing them exactly where they needed to be.

“My daughter is here today because of the kindness of people we will never meet,” Michael said. “That’s something I will carry with me every day.”

At every point of his families care journey Michael said the right elements came together: like the discovery of Micah’s condition and the extraordinary moment when Michael was found to be a perfect match as her living liver donor.

“The medical team saved our daughter’s life, but donor support helped carry our whole family through the journey,” Michael said.

Beyond Michael being a match for his daughter and arriving at a place uniquely equipped to care for her, Michael and Micah’s surgeries were supported by donor-funded innovations, including the da Vinci robot surgical system, and led by Dr. Danielle Fritze, the endowed surgical director for pediatric transplant surgeries at University Health. Her position, made possible through the generosity of the McCombs Family Foundation, ensures that families like Michael’s have access to both world-class expertise and deeply compassionate care when they need it most.

“I’ll never forget the moment Dr. Fritzie walked us through Micah’s condition. She had memorized everything, every detail, and explained it with such clarity and compassion,” Michael said. “That’s when I knew we were exactly where we needed to be.”

Today, what once existed as a professional commitment to philanthropy has become something deeply personal to Michael, a calling shaped by gratitude and responsibility. He now uses his voice not only to share Micah’s story, but to help others understand the life-changing impact of both organ donation and charitable giving. 

“I’ve spent my career helping people give,” Michael said. “But now I’ve experienced what that generosity does. It’s not numbers on a page, it’s real families, real children and real second chances. If sharing our story encourages even one person to consider becoming an organ donor or supporting University Health Foundation, then it’s worth it.”

Michael hopes that by speaking openly about their journey, more people will feel inspired to step forward, whether through living organ donation, financial support or simply raising awareness.

“There are so many families who don’t have the resources we had,” he said. “And the truth is, those resources exist because someone chose to give. If more people understood that their generosity can directly save a life, I think they would see giving in a completely different way.”

If you’ve ever wondered whether your gift matters, let Michael and his daughter’s story be your answer. Because someone chose to give, a little girl is home again, healthy and living the life every parent dreams of for their child.

If you’re interested in supporting University Health’s Transplant Institute, contact us at 210-358-9860 or email at Foundation@uhtx.com. You can also donate directly to our transplant fund through this link: Donate to University Health Foundation