As a medical examiner investigator (MEI), Julia Hilbert responds to deaths throughout Muscatine County, working with families who are often experiencing shock, grief and uncertainty.
“The families are so appreciative, so welcoming,” says Hilbert, who has served as an MEI for four years. “I like being able to help the families. I like being able to be the voice for my decedent.”
One way Hilbert advocates for the people in her care is by ensuring they have the chance to become eye donors. The Muscatine County Medical Examiner’s Office has a policy that every deceased person in their care be considered for eye donation.
“This is just part of our rundown on our list of things to do,” Hilbert says. “When we get a case, as soon as we get done on scene, some of us make the call. I usually wait until I'm in my car or clear of the scene.”
That call goes to Iowa Donor Network, which coordinates all eye donation referrals on behalf of Iowa Lions Eye Bank. From there, donation professionals contact the deceased person’s next of kin and determine whether the person who passed away may be eligible to donate.
But the impact of that simple action can be life changing.
One eye donor can restore sight to two people through corneal transplantation, while donated eyes used for research and education can help countless others.
Hilbert says she appreciates Muscatine County's policy because it gives everyone the opportunity to be eye donors, including those who die at home, in a car accident, or while receiving hospice care.
“I see it as a positive,” Hilbert says. “It's up to the families if they want to accept or not, but at least we're giving everybody a chance.”
A personal understanding of grief
Hilbert's commitment to helping families navigate the donation process is also shaped by her own experience with loss.
When her husband died, she says she was surprised by how quickly she received a call about donation after returning home from the hospital.
“I wasn't aware about them contacting you immediately,” she says. “I had gotten home from the hospital and the phone rang, so it was a surprise and a shock to me.”
That experience influences how she approaches families today.
Knowing that a call about donation may come at an overwhelming time, Hilbert tries to prepare families for what to expect.
“I'll let them know, you know, they're going to call and they're going to call quick,” she says. “But it's a good thing. It's up to you if you want to do that.”
Her goal is to ensure families aren't caught off guard and understand that donation is an opportunity to help others while honoring their loved one's wishes.
A way to leave a legacy
Hilbert says she hopes more people will recognize the good that can come from donation, even during a time of profound loss.
“Your family member might have been one of those people who always wanted to help somebody else, and this is their way of doing it,” she says.
For Hilbert, making a referral isn't just another item on a checklist. It's an opportunity to give families a choice, honor the wishes of those who have died, and help their generosity continue.
As she puts it, “This is our way of living on forever.”