On August 7, 1999, 12-year-old Kelly stopped breathing. The next morning, Kelly started having seizures, along with a high fever and high blood pressure. Her brain was swelling and shutting down. “We could have kept Kelly on the ventilator, or take[n] her off and donate[d] her organs,” said her parents.

On August 9, Kelly was pronounced brain dead and her organs were donated to three adults. The Klines continue their involvement with the Donate Life community by participating in speaking engagements with two of the recipients of Kelly’s organs, their “new, special friends.”