This week we've been sharing stories of how organ donation has touched the lives of people right here in our area.

During this time of Thanksgiving, one Wisconsin family knows that simply being together tops the list of things to be grateful for.

And they have former Merrill Volleyball Coach Sally Pfund and her family to thank for that.

Andrew Fefer wraps up our special series of report, with how Sally's desire to be an organ donor is truly giving "The Gift of Life."

There's a special place in the hearts of the Olson family for the woman they call their hero, Sally Pfund.

"Her life will continue on through all the people that she's helped," says Cindy Johnson, Sally Pfund's sister.

Sally was a long-time volleyball coach, a native of Mondovi, and someone who changed lives off and on the court.

"She was vivacious, bubbly, energetic, always on the go, always busy, loved kids, loved her job, and she helped everyone and anyone that she could possibly help," says Johnson.

"Our daughter actually went to volleyball camp over at Sal's and stayed at her house for a week in August," says Wendy Olson, Dave's wife.

Last month, Sally passed away at age 49, after having a stroke during brain surgery.

It left her family devastated, and communities across Wisconsin in mourning.

But it was also a glimmer of hope for Dave Olson. He's Sally's husband's second cousin, and had been dealing with a condition called Alport Syndrome.

The Alport Syndrome Foundation says genetic defects cause it to slowly deteriorate the filtering parts of the kidney.

When another family member found out Sally's kidney may save Dave's life, she told Sally's family.

Once it was determined that Sally was a compatable donor for Dave, they made arrangements.

Dave says getting the phone call with that news was bittersweet.

" It's very hard, because you don't want somebody to lose a family member to benefit yourself," says Dave Olson, the kidney recipient.

"At the time that I knew that, it was the only good thing that I could say about the fact that my sister gave her life," says Cindy Johnson.

Dave is recovering now, and spending more time with family than before the transplant.

When Dave and his wife are asked what they would want Sally's family to know, "Just how fortunate we feel. And, we can't thank them enough for saving Dave's life," says Wendy Olson.

"There's not enough words to tell them "thank you." You can't even come up with the right words. But they need to know how grateful we are, and Sally helped a lot of other people besides me, and I'm sure they're thinking the same thing," says Dave Olson.

That a woman who gave so much during her short life, ended up giving "The Gift Of Life" to some of the people who needed it the most.