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Organ donors, donations celebrated

JANELLE PATTERSON The Marietta Times Aden Karcher, 2, of Marietta, hangs an ornament in honor of his grandmother at Strecker Cancer Center in Marietta Monday.

Mindy Starcher, 38, of Marietta and her sister Lori Hodge, 38, choked back tears as they shared stories of their mother Charlene “Chuckie” Goudy at the Hope for the Holidays event at the Memorial Health System’s Strecker Cancer Center Monday.

Goudy donated her eyes and skin when she passed away in May.

The event, organized by Lifeline of Ohio and the health system, focused on the families of those who have donated organs and tissue to save or improve someone’s life.

“Being here and knowing there are people who appreciate her donation, it’s still very fresh to us,” said Starcher. “But we’re here to celebrate that as her final act she was able to make people happy.”

Starcher’s daughter Kiera, 11, said she missed her grandmother but was excited to remember her through a Christmas tree ornament Monday.

“She made a lot of funny jokes and always had toys for us and played with us and ate chocolate,” explained Kiera. “And Christmas would always be opening presents at her house, so this is nice to make an ornament in her name.”

For Linda Marks, 59, of Belpre, the night was a chance to honor those who made her heart transplant possible.

“People ask me each year what I want for Christmas and I say that I got everything I wanted three years ago when I was given the gift of life,” Marks explained. “My ornament honors my donor’s family with the date of my transplant on the back.”

Kathy Warhola, regional representative for Lifeline of Ohio, said the night gives donor families and recipients alike the chance to provide comfort so close to the winter holidays. Lifeline of Ohio is an independent, nonprofit organ procurement organization which facilitates the donation process in Central and Southeastern Ohio and two counties in West Virginia.

“This helps you when chairs are empty at the holidays, to know that you’re not alone and for families to know their loved one really has helped someone else,” she explained. Lisa Bable, 59, of Pomeroy, journeyed to Marietta with her husband to honor the two members of her family who served as live donors to save her life.

“My mother and my brother each gave me a kidney,” she explained. “I made my ornaments for them to celebrate what they’ve done for me.”

Ohioans may register in the Ohio Donor Registry through lifelineofohio.org or may indicate their intention when renewing a driver’s license. The registry helps local residents first before looking to the national level.

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