Kari Westberg

Organ Donor

1983 — 2000

My name is Steve and I've suffered with Cystic Fibrosis all of my life -- In April, 2000, I was not far from the end of that life when Kari and her family reached out to me...

The girl who's picture I'm holding is Kari. She was intellegent -- Kari was a member of the National Honor Society. She was athletic -- Kari was a star on her high school volleyball team. She was opinionated, stubborn, outspoken... And she had a smile that lit up the world.

In the first few months in the year 2000, not far from her 17th birthday, she was having dinner with her family when the topic or organ donation came up. Kari said without hesitation that she didn't understand why someone wouldn't want to help someone else when they were through with life here...

A couple of weeks later, Kari and her sister were swapping drivers licenses, checking out each other's pictures. Her Mom says Kari jumped all over her sister because she didn't have "organ donor" indicated on her license.

A few weeks after that, Kari's family had a tragic decision to make... At probably the most devastating moment in their lives, they reached out and saved my life. Kari brought her big smile into my life on April 8, 2000 when she and her family gave me both of her lungs...


Today is Wednesday, April 20, 2005 -- Monday I visited the National Donor Memorial at UNOS in Richmond, Virginia -- I met some incredible people who helped Kari's gift find me, and I saw what is developing into a beautiful tribute to people like Kari and her family. I just started this little personal tribute, and I'll try to finish it over the next month -- I'm going to say way too much, yet not enough to explain what Kari means to me... I've met her family and friends. They are the most precious people I've ever met -- And they've given me a small idea of who Kari was... And a huge idea of how precious the gift she gave me truly is.

I have posted the picture I plan to use. I just love this picture... I love the way I'm standing strong... I love my expression... And the way I'm holding Kari's picture... I use this picture sometimes when I speak to groups about Kari and about organ donation - I tell my audience that this is how I imagine I'll look the second I get to heaven, when I tug on the robe of the first angel I see and ask, "Have you seen this girl?!?! I need to find her... I need to give her a hug..."