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Teen's tragic death saves three people

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    Amanda Forsyth's organs donated to help others live

  • Duration 9:08
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I thank you Steve you're looking at a picture of the beautiful young girl this is sixteen year old Amanda foresight she had her whole life ahead of her.

But back in June of 2006 the bubbly teen and two of her friends were hit by car while crossing the street.

Amanda did not survive the accident.

But because her life was cut tragically short seven complete strangers when given a second chance at life.

Three of Amanda's transplant recipients are with us today Tommy Steele.

Pancreas -- -- James got Amanda's left -- And Maria Salazar received -- right -- at just twelve years old she's now eighteen and she joins us with her sister.

-- and good morning to all four of mourning -- Tommy let me start with you you had diabetes yes.

You had received a kidney yes you were losing your vision.

And you needed a pancreas that.

Amanda.

Her pancreas was a perfect -- traffic maps what does it mean for you as far as life or death.

It was an extension of a life it was nearly over the kidney and prolonged my life that it had a shelf life because the increase was still not functioning.

And I was looking at maybe five years more of -- -- -- student.

From the time and that the -- when the pay increase came through it changed everything for me it gave me back to life it was pretty much.

Well said I'm very tight timetable and let me live week to see my one of my sons married I have two beautiful grandchildren now.

-- I've been able to resume working and doing things that I love -- in my church and god has been so good to me.

To let me live on I I hate that and handle -- life.

Course I'm thankful that -- wind was so generous.

And willing.

To share life with so many people.

We want people to know that transplant is not something to be afraid -- it is a great gift that you can give.

God gives us one life but -- that life can be extended went through with this body.

Kudos to those been willing to do it because it has given me a great.

Great story to tell my -- and I'm so has so he's so well sentiment wanna responsive.

Willie you received Amanda's left kidney.

I know it's an emotional day for you this -- is what has it meant for your life.

We changed my mind.

Everything this -- turn around.

And oil from the Booth.

-- ocean also aligned with a.

You're you're about to meet her parents and for the first time and what what what second -- like that emotion.

-- -- -- -- We'll continue to in your eyes as where during this time of the Christmas season think a lot about gifts this could do on the gift of life making the greatest one.

Next to your propensity get to the lord -- here and I'm a person of faith -- this will before dawn on.

Big big big big change.

I want to move on to Maria Salazar she was just twelve when she also received Amanda's right -- I'm -- you're now eighteen your sister Marcia is with you because -- English is is not tense as.

Well as yours and -- but Maria you look fantastic.

Can tell us how it has changed your life.

Well.

It's.

An amazing experience.

You know it's about my -- here.

And life.

It was a hopeless.

Time at that time when she was.

You know.

Having him many many issues and you know in somebody's helpless when somebody just.

You know the -- -- -- and then they told that if that.

You know we have left home.

-- -- -- -- -- Friend I can't imagine we can see in the silence of your sister's.

Emotions sometimes silence tells the entire story well I want to introduce you to these beautiful parents.

Who.

And the horrible pain of losing their child decided to give life to seven people Diane and -- percent since joining us now on the -- Good morning to you.

-- We can all sit on the sofa here and you can be reunited with the people your daughter saying.

Thank you I don't even think that you don't.

And I -- thinking.

I'm -- let me.

Diane Warren.

I want to give -- the opportunity to speak about your beautiful child.

-- tell us about -- And she's just must be loving giving person.

That I have been doing much All My Children that is -- the -- I.

The middle child.

She just had tons of friends -- spirit with us that giving me and light and my Mormon and I were.

In the hospital.

She knew.

You know when they told us that and -- it was too much.

Brain trauma.

And it was like.

We -- really at that at that point.

Know what to do.

And almost at the same time came out -- well what about donating organs.

Being very gullible and -- like most Americans.

Do.

And then we started to just this little children of -- elements of and we decided.

-- donate her organs and just ends because atmosphere.

And it wasn't about giving him and -- and it's.

She's that's just the way she was -- like -- that you can have any enemies.

Never anything bad to say about anyone.

Want to know that that you believe that maybe it was a sign that she was giving to you that maybe.

She couldn't speak but that this somehow messages coming through to miss her parents that this is something that she would want to do.

Yes she was always a giving person and even in the end she -- she gave of herself.

And I'm glad the seminary recipients.

You know group that four from here now and it's just that the -- you know we lost somebody very dear to us.

More than another term you know she should we were able to share.

With other people and now -- helps them with their lives.

She died six years ago and were finally having the string and today I know there were complications and messaging and anyway the bottom line is you're here.

Today and Tommy -- and Maria what is your message back to things wonderful parents who make that decision from.

So it.

-- -- Fortunately catches a lot of -- people from from the small community in south Mississippi.

Very tight community have a lovely church that helped me survive my years of sickness.

But now the mom wouldn't be here but you would be icing on the cake and then you have extended.

My life beyond anything I can imagine.

Did tags off my toes so to speak.

I'm gonna live this long is gone went into because of Amanda's contribution to me that -- someone -- Thank -- -- big change in my life.

-- can you.

-- -- and -- it.

And I'm sorry about your daughter.

But you've -- licenses.

You know one of the things like I said.

-- -- to my strength and our families resort you know we belonged to it got sick leave his church on Staten Island.

They were instrumental in being there for us.

What school.

Give the high school season -- they were.

Still to this day -- -- general -- still supports us.

And winning.

You know we decided to teams do that says that it just I knew how many lives it would touch and and just to go forward.

To tell the people that it was a difficult decision was an easy.

And that I just thought of what -- would've wanted men from that we are able thing.

And now you're seeing the lives that that she has.

Saved and it's so easy you can just become an organ donor right on your driver's license I have done it if it's something you want to think about it and very.

Easy process that's all 6 -- you this morning and Merry Christmas and and we need more and we need there -- stories out of awful tragedy but ultimately -- -- -- happiness for these people.

Southern that the god wants is still not dividing it and it's very easy you know when you think of it like that and -- -- of the people we can now say.

And to some.

That's.

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