Melissa Ditta devoted herself to her two children as she had devoted herself to her dolls when she was a child. "Melissa did not play with her dolls, she nurtured them," said a family friend. As an adult, she was the perfect "class mom" who helped out on field trips and volunteered at sporting events. At age 34, Melissa died suddenly from a brain aneurysm. It did not surprise her family to find that she had already chosen to be an organ and tissue donor. Her decision was honored on May 26, 2012, when she donated her corneas, tissue and five life-saving organs to four people.

Melissa's Story

Melissa Ann Ditta loved to laugh. But most of all, she loved her family.

As a teenager, the family – her father Ron, mother Lorraine, and young brother Danny – moved to Northern California from New Jersey. Melissa thrived, growing up an active and outgoing teenager. Out of high school, she married. When her two children were born, Melissa devoted her life to raising them.

For school, Melissa was always the "class mom," ready to help as a chaperon on field trips or fundraiser to support the school. In the community, for every sport her children participated in, Melissa would be there as a volunteer, manning a booth or shooting pictures for end-of-the year photo albums for the players.

Friends say it was as if Melissa knew her life's deepest purpose was to be a mother, and she was exceptional at it.

She was also passionate about her horses. Angel made the trip with the family from New Jersey. Her horses were there with Melissa as she grew into a passionate and upbeat adult. When they could steal a few hours away, Melissa and Lorraine rode together in the rolling hills above the family's Northern California home.

Melissa's life ended suddenly, cut short by a brain aneurysm. But true to the way she had lived her life by helping others, it was no surprise to learn that earlier in her life, Melissa had decided to document her wish to continuing helping others by registering as an organ and tissue donor. Her gifts included corneas, tissue and five lifesaving organs for four people.

"Giving was what Melissa was all about," affirmed her mother. "It's who she was. She makes me proud. She was an amazing human being."