With National Organ Donation Month taking place in April, local doctors and a local family are reminding the community how important these donations can be.
According to the Contreras family, their 15-year-old daughter, Celeste Contreras, became a donor in 2002, and has saved multiple lives as a result.
Terri Contreras, Celeste’s mother, said becoming a donor was something her daughter wanted to do before she died.
“She always had a giving heart, and now it has been given to others,” Contreras said.
She said Celeste’s organs were donated to several people across the South Plains including “Laura” who was in need of a liver.
The family formed a special bond with “Laura” and even walked her down the aisle at her wedding, she said.
“Laura’s mom told us she had never planned a wedding for her daughter only funerals,” Contreras said. “It was such an amazing moment for all of us and it was all because of Celeste.”
The Contreras family is hoping their daughter’s story will serve as an inspiration to others to also sign up as organ donors.
Covenant Medical Center will be holding these sign-ups on Monday, April 14th.
