Mariah West was driving to a ballgame the day before her high school graduation. She was getting directions via text message when she lost control of her car; the accident caused massive head trauma. "We made the choice to donate her eyes, organs and tissue because by nature she was a very giving person," said her mother Merry. "We felt that if she was a little bit more mature she would have made this choice herself since it was more consistent with her character."

Mariah's Story

Mariah West was 18 years old when she was driving to a Springfield Cardinals ballgame the day before her high school graduation. She was getting directions via text message when she lost control of her car. She crossed the median, clipped a bridge and started into a roll; she was partially ejected, caught between the car and the pavement, causing massive head trauma. She survived for eight days in a coma and eventually suffered a massive stroke.

Mariah wasn't a registered donor. "We made the choice to donate her eyes, organs and tissue because by nature she was a very giving person," said her mother Merry. "On her social media site she had posted 'I love helping people. If there is anything I can do to help within my power I will not hesitate.' We felt that if she was a little bit more mature she would have made this choice herself since it was more consistent with her character."

Merry received a letter from one of the recipients who received her daughter's liver. She describes the impact the letter and the donation had on her. "It is just a blessing to read. The doctors had given her four days to live if she didn't get the transplant. I encourage others to donate their organs. It is the last unselfish gift that you can give to help somebody else and improve their quality of life. There is also a tremendous amount of healing that comes from knowing you have helped someone else and that a part of your loved one lives on."

Mariah wanted to be a teacher and to make a difference in people's lives. Organ donation is one of the avenues where her dreams and goals were achieved. Mariah's parents have also started the Mariah West Educational Foundation which has a mission to educate the public about the dangers of distraction in one's personal and spiritual life. "My husband and I travel the country to speak at schools with our Dangers of Distraction program, which educates young people about the risk they face behind the wheel. While we believe in organ donation, we are actively trying to reduce the numbers of donors due to distracted driving," said Merry.