Teen Organ Donation Awareness Day in Virginia
The state honors teens who have saved lives
HENRICO COUNTY - Lisa Western says in a way scrapbooking has saved her life by helping her to cope with her grief.
She lost her daughter Chelsea at 16, a daughter she says always wanted to help others.
Lisa says, "That was always one of her biggest things was that if she could just help one person in her life, you know, then she thought that she would make a difference."
Chelsea decided to become an organ donor when she got her learner's permit, and it was only a matter of months later that her heart and her two kidneys were used to save the lives of three people.
A minor car accident that started a chain of events, and two weeks later, Chelsea was gone.
Lisa says, "They had no idea in the hospital why a 16-year-old, healthy child went into a coma. I mean, they gave her a shot for pain, she fell asleep and never woke up."
An autopsy later showed she had bacterial meningitis.
Friday, April 9th is Teen Organ Donation Awareness Day in Virginia, Specifically in honor of Brooks Berry who saved three lives and restored sight to two people because he was an organ donor when he died at the age of 17.
Dena Reynolds with Lifenet Health says during an average week, three Virginians die waiting for an organ transplant.
Reynolds says, "We have more than 2500 people in the commonwealth that are waiting for that lifesaving organ transplant, and unfortunately many people die, because there just aren't enough donors."
Lisa says when she first lost her daughter, she didn't realize how much this process would help her heal.
She says, "At the time, probably not. I really didn't think about it, but now, definitely. To know that her heart beats on, you know. She's still out there and helping."
If you or someone you know has been touched by organ donation, a special event is being held this weekend to celebrate the lives of organ and tissue donors. It's Sunday at 2 p.m. at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens.
For more information about organ donation click here.
She lost her daughter Chelsea at 16, a daughter she says always wanted to help others.
Lisa says, "That was always one of her biggest things was that if she could just help one person in her life, you know, then she thought that she would make a difference."
Chelsea decided to become an organ donor when she got her learner's permit, and it was only a matter of months later that her heart and her two kidneys were used to save the lives of three people.
A minor car accident that started a chain of events, and two weeks later, Chelsea was gone.
Lisa says, "They had no idea in the hospital why a 16-year-old, healthy child went into a coma. I mean, they gave her a shot for pain, she fell asleep and never woke up."
An autopsy later showed she had bacterial meningitis.
Friday, April 9th is Teen Organ Donation Awareness Day in Virginia, Specifically in honor of Brooks Berry who saved three lives and restored sight to two people because he was an organ donor when he died at the age of 17.
Dena Reynolds with Lifenet Health says during an average week, three Virginians die waiting for an organ transplant.
Reynolds says, "We have more than 2500 people in the commonwealth that are waiting for that lifesaving organ transplant, and unfortunately many people die, because there just aren't enough donors."
Lisa says when she first lost her daughter, she didn't realize how much this process would help her heal.
She says, "At the time, probably not. I really didn't think about it, but now, definitely. To know that her heart beats on, you know. She's still out there and helping."
If you or someone you know has been touched by organ donation, a special event is being held this weekend to celebrate the lives of organ and tissue donors. It's Sunday at 2 p.m. at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens.
For more information about organ donation click here.
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