My dad was blessed to see receive the gift of life from the greatest hero we never knew, Erin.  My dad used to say Erin's family's worst day was our best day.  We all took that to heart and never for once took it for granted.  Because of Erin, my dad was able to live nine more years and get to watch his grandchildren grow. My dad and our family never missed an opportunity to talk about organ donation and awareness.  We've been blessed by getting to know Erin's family, spending time with them over the years, and consider them family.

Our family story, getting to know Erin's family, and having the opportunity to become close with her grandpa sparked a speical passion for tissue and organ donation awareness in my oldest daughter, Shelby, when she was young.  We always joke that Shelby got the "gift of gab" from grandpa.  She often did school speeches on the topic and encouraged her friends to talk with their families about the importance of donation and handed out green Iowa Donor Network Donate Life bracelets.  After high school, Shelby volunteered at the Iowa Donor Network and went on to be their Public Outreach Intern.  As part of her work with IDN, she enthusiastically did a social media take over to share her story, was part of the Faces of Donation, and even volunteered at the Green 5K just last year.  Shelby approached each day knowing how fortunate our family was to have been blessed by donation, the impact Erin had on our family, and also the pain of losing someone waiting on the transplant list.  She was so proud of her involvement with IDN and their mission and never missed an opportunity to help share our story and the need for awareness and donation.  

The unimaginable happened when Shelby died from a massive blood clot at Christmas at only 21 years old.  She was healthy and vibrant, had graduated college, had her dream job, and was living her best life with the love of her life.  Shelby was an amazing daughter and big sister and was an incredibly proud registered eye, tissue, and organ donor.  We are participating in the green 5K to continue her legacy and honor the life she lived.  She had already signed up to volunteer for the Green 5K again this year.  We could never have imagined, after everything we've been through, that our story would take the turn it did.  Shelby talked the talk and walked the walk.  We are incredibly proud of her and love and miss her so much.

-Shelby's mom