Alexa Kersting was just 6 ½ years old when she was diagnosed with an interstitial lung disease which causes scarring of lung tissue and eventually affects one’s ability to breathe and get adequate oxygen into the bloodstream.
Due to the severity of her condition, at age 13, Alexa was placed on the pediatric transplant waiting list in the Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota region, LifeSource. The only thing her family could do is wait for a call.
That call never came, and Alexa passed away suddenly in the loving arms of her parents at age 14.
Her parents share their story.
Alexa’s Hope
After the loss of their young daughter, Monica Kersting founded Alexa’s Hope in her honor to help spread awareness for organ donation.
It is “Alexa’s Hope” that one day soon no child, no person, will die awaiting a life-saving transplant, because the answer to organ donation is always yes.
The Inspiration for the #GivetoLive Challenge
In order to promote the awareness of the importance of organ donation, Alexa’s Hope will be hosting the #GivetoLive Challenge tomorrow in Fargo, North Dakota.
The event, made possible by a $40,000 Breakthrough Idea Challenge Grant from Dakota Medical Foundation and other community sponsors, partners and supporters, will attempt to break the GUINNESS WORLD RECORD® for the most organ donor sign-ups in an 8-hour period.
Interested in helping us break the record? Learn to see if you can sign up here.
Need More Encouragement?
- Currently, there are over 120,000 people on the national transplant waiting list; over 600 of them are 5 years old or younger.
- On average, a single tissue donor can save or heal the lives of up to 50 people.
- An average of 18 patients die every day while awaiting a lifesaving transplant.
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