Organ Donors unites families

The Park Record | Sarah Moffitt

Woman who died on S.R. 224 in December saved multiple lives

In December, 25 year-old Gabriela Caballero-Lopez's life was cut short when she was struck by a car while crossing State Road 224 near Canyons Resort. Gabriela's mother, Mirta, was barely able to make it from Paraguay to her daughter's bedside before her daughter passed away.

Despite the tragedy, Lopez saw an opportunity to help others and pass along the gift of life. She donated all of Gabriela's organs that she could, including her heart, kidney, eyes and corneas.

This week, Lopez and Gabriela's sister, Pamela, have been able to see the positive results of the donation. Intermountain Donor Registry flew the family to Utah where they have met multiple recipients of the organs, including Salt Lake City resident Allyson Gamble, who received her heart.

"Meeting Gabriela's family was magical," Gamble said. "The heart donation was life changing and because of it I am still able to be a mother and a wife. Our families shared so much joy and sorrow. I am so grateful for the heart yet can only imagine how painful it is to lose a daughter."

Since meeting last week, Gamble's family and the Lopez's have spent every day together. Gamble said she enjoys learning about Gabriela and has a picture of her hanging in her kitchen.

"It is a hard concept to grasp that I got to live only because someone else had to die," Gamble said.

Lopez said she was made aware of the importance of being an organ donor when her husband, Gabriela's father, was able to live a few years longer thanks to a kidney transplant.
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