"I picked her up after school on her birthday, and we went straight to the licensing center," said Kimberly's mom, Malinda Sherid of Greensburg. "As part of that application process, they asked if she wanted to be listed as an organ donor, and she turned to me and said, 'What's that?' "
Ms. Sherid briefly explained the process to her daughter: When you die, your organs are transplanted into other people who are sick, and it helps save their lives.
Kim instantly replied, "I want to do this," and she checked yes to the organ donor question. The state requires a parent's consent for applicants under 18, so her mother added her signature to the form.
Neither one of them could possibly have known it at the time, but about two months later, on Feb. 2, 2001, Kim would fulfill her pledge to be a donor.
"We skidded on some black ice and were hit broadside," said Ms. Sherid, who was driving the car at the time of the accident.
Mother and daughter were rushed to the hospital -- Malinda with a concussion and Kim with injuries so devastating hospital personnel knew she had no hope of survival. Seeing the donor designation on her driver's license, they called the state's organ transplant coordinator.
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12002/1200425-114-0.stm#ixzz1ibBM6L5M
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