Alexa’s Hope “Give to Liveâ€
Fargo | Candice Grimm
In the fall of 2003, Alexa Kersting was placed on a pediatric transplant waiting list.
After being diagnosed with an interstitial lung disease at the age of 6 1/2, her condition had worsened. She needed a new set of healthy lungs to live. Because of her age, size and condition, Kersting was number one on the pediatric transplant waiting list of the LifeSource donor region. The LifeSource donor region includes North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.
Alexa’s Story
“We started waiting, waiting for that call to come. “ said Monica Kersting, Alexa’s mother. “When you’re on a waiting list, your health is at risk. You don’t know how long you have until time simply runs out,†she explained.
After months of waiting for a call saying a donor had been found, Alexa passed away on July 15, 2004. She was 14 years old and waiting for a double lung transplant.
“After she died, I thought it’d be a really cool idea to have an angel figurine made that anyone would want to buy, but the purpose of it would be to raise awareness about the importance of organ donations,†said Monica Kersting. Her thought was to incorporate the federal donor logo, which at that time was a red heart with a green ribbon around it, on each angel figurine.
After being diagnosed with an interstitial lung disease at the age of 6 1/2, her condition had worsened. She needed a new set of healthy lungs to live. Because of her age, size and condition, Kersting was number one on the pediatric transplant waiting list of the LifeSource donor region. The LifeSource donor region includes North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.
Alexa’s Story
“We started waiting, waiting for that call to come. “ said Monica Kersting, Alexa’s mother. “When you’re on a waiting list, your health is at risk. You don’t know how long you have until time simply runs out,†she explained.
After months of waiting for a call saying a donor had been found, Alexa passed away on July 15, 2004. She was 14 years old and waiting for a double lung transplant.
“After she died, I thought it’d be a really cool idea to have an angel figurine made that anyone would want to buy, but the purpose of it would be to raise awareness about the importance of organ donations,†said Monica Kersting. Her thought was to incorporate the federal donor logo, which at that time was a red heart with a green ribbon around it, on each angel figurine.
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"You have the power to SAVE lives."
To register as a donor TODAY
In California:
www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org | www.doneVIDAcalifornia.org
Outside California:
www.organdonor.gov | www.donatelife.net
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