Ceremony held for organ donors who gave gift of life

PITTSBURGH — A quilt was created to pay tribute to organ donors who gave the gift of life.

One of them is Jason Fetter, who tragically died when he was 7 years old.

"He cared for everybody and would give anybody the shirt off his back if he could," said Fetter's mom, Anna Oldham.

Fetter drowned at a swimming camp five years ago. His little sister Kaylee Oldham, 10, was emotional as she remembered him.

"He was this energetic, loving, kind boy. He would literally jump into a pool to save a life," Kaylee said.

As an organ donor, Fetter donated both kidneys and his liver, saving the lives of three others.

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For donor families, Oldham said that helps in the grieving process.

"They have that second chance at life, to have a normal life and be able to go on knowing that they saved somebody," Oldham said.

Fetter was among the 214 donors who were honored by the Center for Organ Recovery and Education at its annual A Special Place ceremony.

"There's no greater gift to give than the gift of life. To leave a legacy for your family and friends. To remember that at the end of your life, you are still able to carry on in another person," said Susan Stuart, president and CEO of CORE.

"It's been 12 years since my transplant, and I've been doing great ever since, and it's all thanks to my donor," said Brittany Grimm, an organ donor recipient.

Grimm, now 23 years old, had a heart transplant when she was 11 years old and has lived a full life ever since.

The donor was a 31-year-old man, and she is forever grateful to him and his family for giving her a second chance.

"With the loss of a loved one, it could never be the same. But thanks to them and that decision that they made at the DMV or signing up online, they were able to save my life," Grimm said.

You can sign up to be an organ donor through CORE or when you renew your driver's license.

Cox Media Group