Lisa and her life partner, Janice Langbehn, committed themselves to each other in October of 1991. From this moment on, Lisa dedicated her life to helping others. From 1992 to 2007, Lisa and Janice fostered 25 children, legally adopting four who had special needs. Lisa gave up her career to stay home with their children. In February 2007, Lisa suddenly collapsed from a cerebral aneurysm. Fortunately, Lisa had made it clear that if her organs could be used to help others, that is what must happen. Donating Lisa's organs would be one of the easiest decisions Janice would make in their 18 years together.

Lisa's Story

Lisa and her life partner, Janice Langbehn, committed themselves to each other in a ceremony of Holy Union in October of 1991. From this moment on, Lisa dedicated her life to helping others.

On a Friday in early 1992, Lisa and Janice welcomed their first foster child, becoming the first openly gay foster parents in their county in Washington State. Rose, 14, had been in countless foster homes, and they were warned that she would likely run away before the weekend was over. Rose did not run; in fact, she stayed over four years and graduated from high school.

Following Rose's graduation, Lisa wanted to foster more children, so from 1995 to 2007, Lisa and Janice fostered 25 children, legally adopting four of them (Michael, Danielle, David and Katelyn). All four of these children had significant special needs, having been exposed in utero to cocaine, heroin, alcohol, and HIV. None of these challenges daunted Lisa. In fact, she gave up her career as a social worker to stay home with her children, so she could spend time in their classrooms and take them to endless appointments with doctors and specialists.

As the children grew, Lisa was known to always have "room for one more." Child Protective Services often called Lisa with a sick baby to care for until a relative could be found.

Lisa taught baptism classes at her Catholic parish, and then taught First Communion classes to all four of her adopted children. Having been a Girl Scout, Lisa started a Girl Scout troop as soon as the girls were old enough. Lisa was at her happiest being outdoors and taking kids on new adventures.

In February 2007, Lisa, then 39 years old, was with Janice and three of the children in Miami for a family cruise when she suddenly collapsed. She suffered a cerebral aneurysm which had gone undetected for years. Fortunately, Lisa had made it clear that if her organs could be used to help others, that is what must happen. Donating Lisa's organs would be one of the easiest decisions Janice would make in their 18 years together.

"Without a doubt the absolute best part of donating Lisa's organs has been the ability to get to know the heart recipient, Jerry," says Janice, who calls Jerry "the keeper of Lisa's heart." Jerry and his wife, Maxine, have now "adopted" Lisa's children as their own grandchildren.

"Our families come from very different ideological backgrounds, but organ donation transcends all of that," says Janice. "As a member of a donor family, I am proud to be just a small piece of Lisa's legacy."