Death of Tech Student Brings New Life For Those Who Receive Donated Organs
By: Meredith Hillgartner
Updated: December 11, 2012
"For the person giving and for their family," Lambo said. "It gives them the opportunity to turn what could be a catastrophic injury or a horrible event into something good."
There are more than 14,000 organ donors in the United States.
Meagan Rough a Texas Tech student killed last week by an accused drunk driver, was one of them.
"I think God gave us all the ability to be giving people and to be caring and compassionate," Lambo said. "I think it is our duty to help our fellow beings."
But there are more than 114,000 patients in need of a donor.
Covenant nurse Karen Lambo said she sees the needs every day.
"Especially when we have someone who has been waiting on a transplant list for a long time," Lambo said. "We get to see them come in and get their organs and the difference it makes in their lives and the lives of their families."
Meagan gave her heart and lungs to a 57 year old woman.
Her liver was given to a 54 year old man.
Her kidney and pancreas were given to a 35 year old woman-and she still has one kidney to give.
"You think to yourself what you're giving up," Lambo said. "but on the other hand you look at it and you think if I am going to cease being but if I can help someone else to not suffer, why would you not do that?"
The ultimate gift Meagan and others gave, brings new life and hope to those who need it most.
"If you want to be a donor they'll go through each part of it with you, each part of the application of the consent, and they'll ask you each one," Lambo said.
Lambo said the memory of those like Meagan who gave so much of themselves to help others, never fades away.
"During the holidays there was a tragedy there was a young person who didn't make it ...they wanted someone else's child to live because of what happened to their child," Lambo said."I walked with them to the O.R. as we got ready to take their child back and to know that they were seeing their child for the last time, but the mom looked at me and said 'but his heart will keep beating.'"
