For Donna Desautels, complicated health challenges led her to Mass General Brigham for care — an experience that ultimately shaped her deep belief that Mass General Brigham is a place of hope. In gratitude, Donna arranged to give back in meaningful ways, including through a charitable bequest in her will, to support the care that transformed her health.

On her healthcare journey, Donna developed great trust and confidence in her visionary and compassionate caregivers at Mass General Brigham — and she also found a sense of belonging and community. “I always feel better as soon as I step on campus,” Donna says. “At Mass General Brigham, you realize you are far from alone in your struggles.”

Hope For a Complex Case

Years ago, Donna felt isolated. Mysterious pain in her right leg and in one of her arms, as well as severe headaches — which would later be identified as multiple medical issues — limited Donna’s mobility and forced her to use ski poles to trek around her town of Slocum, Rhode Island.

Imaging revealed a large schwannoma on Donna’s sciatic nerve. Typically benign, a schwannoma is a type of tumor that forms in the sheath around the nerves that often causes numbness, pain, or weakness. Donna’s condition confused her Rhode Island physicians. But a neighbor suggested Donna visit Mass General Brigham, and Jonathan Winograd, MD, who specializes in peripheral nerve surgery.

At their first consultation, Dr. Winograd restored Donna’s hope, she recalls. Dr. Winograd was able to recognize her unique condition and reassured her that he could treat it. “He takes a personal interest in his patients,” Donna says. “He believed I could return to normal activities.”

Heroes Who Wear Lab Coats

Dr. Winograd and his team operated to remove the tumor and then performed a second surgery to address sensory and motor function issues in Donna’s left leg. Donna’s arm pain was later diagnosed as thoracic outlet syndrome, in which nerves between the collarbone and first rib are compressed. To treat her pain, Dr. Winograd recommended simple Botox injections instead of surgery.

Meanwhile, Dr. Winograd recruited neurologist Scott Plotkin, MD, to the team to investigate Donna’s severe headaches. She says her care under Dr. Plotkin, too, is unparalleled. “Boston’s greatest are not rock stars or football players,” Donna says. “My heroes wear lab coats. They’re transforming patient care and breaking new ground in medical research every day.”

A Gift for a Brighter Future

As her physical condition improved, Donna looked at ways to give back to Mass General Brigham. She participates in a schwannoma research project that explores how gene therapy can starve vascular tumors of blood supply to make them disappear. Donna is also making careful arrangements to donate her brain and other tissue to Mass General Brigham.

Additionally, Donna has designated the majority of her estate, including her retirement account assets, to Mass General Brigham. This thoughtful plan allows Donna to have what she needs throughout her lifetime, while ensuring that upon her passing, her estate executor will carry out her wishes and direct her gift to Mass General Brigham.

To put these plans in place Donna worked with the Office of Gift Planning at Mass General Brigham, where the team provided suggested bequest language to share with her attorney. Donna takes great comfort in knowing her future gift will empower others who live with complex health conditions and provide them with the same hope, care, and life-changing support that meant so much to her.

Take the next steps today to create your legacy at Mass General Brigham, contact the Office of Gift Planning at giftplanning@bwh.harvard.edu or call us at 617-424-4326.