Patricia Streich-McConnell was a giving person. As a child, she wanted to know why some people didn't have all their limbs or could not hear or see. As an adult, she helped anyone she could. A mother of three, Patricia taught her children to have charity for others, curiosity for the world around them, and a deep appreciation for nature. At age 34, Patricia suffered a severe asthma attack and collapsed. As a registered donor, her decision was honored the four people saved by her organs and many others healed through donated tissue and bone. Her family hopes that her gifts will inspire others to follow Patricia's example.

Patricia's Story

Patricia Streich-McConnell was a very giving person. As a child she wanted to know why some people didn't have all of their limbs, or could not hear or see. When she saw people who were disabled she stopped to ask what happened to them and was genuinely interested in their answers. Patricia knew at a young age that there were others less fortunate than she was. As an adult, she helped anyone she could, even when she was struggling.

On Nov. 14, 2012, Patricia suffered a severe asthma attack at her home and collapsed. She was only 34. Of her three children, her eight-year-old daughter was there to call for help. Paramedics arrived to find her without a heartbeat. Despite best efforts, Patricia had been without oxygen for too long.

Her sister Elisabeth recalled, "Our family is scattered around the country, so it took a day for us to travel to Utah. As a family, we realized that there was not going to be a miracle and discussed the option of organ and tissue donation. Patricia had been a registered donor since she was old enough to drive. She'd discussed her wishes with all of us and we chose to honor them."

Patricia's heart was placed with a mother in Colorado; her left kidney went to a mother in Minnesota; her right kidney to a boy in Utah; and her liver was placed with a mother of five. Her bone and tissue was recovered to help many others.

Patricia did her best to teach her children to have charity for others, a curiosity for the world around them, and a deep appreciation for nature. Her family hopes to continue those lessons, and that her children will one day understand the impact of her gifts to others.

Patricia's death was a great loss to her family; she is missed every day. Their one comfort is that her death allowed others to live, that one loss to them has been life-saving for many others. They hope that her gifts will inspire others to follow Patricia's example, and that their experience as a family will help others understand what an impact they and their loved ones can have on the world through organ and tissue donation.