How One Girl Changed Seven Lives

Heidi Sewalish was 13 when she lost her life in a 1988 car accident. Her mother, Dianne, decided to donate Heidi's organs.

The family's tragedy eventually helped to save the lives of seven strangers. It's a story that led The Early Show's "In The Family Circle" to take a look at the importance of organ donation.

Today, the family lives with both their memories of Heidi and the joy of saving those seven lives. Five people received organ transplants and two people can now see thanks to Heidi's corneas.

"When I met all of them, especially the heart recipient, Tom," Dianne Sewalish tells The Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm. "It was like this calming feeling came over me. It's like I was at peace."

Not able to contain her emotion, Sewalish continues, "The first thing I said to him, was: 'Can I hear my daughter's heart?' And to hear Heidi's heart beating inside of him was amazing. I just wish that all the recipients could have met her. She was wonderful."

At first, liver recipient Cori Evans was reluctant to meet with Sewalish. "I just didn't know how to take it," Evans says. But now they see each other quite often.

Sewalish notes, "Knowing that she is alive because of Heidi, it's just such a wonderful, wonderful feeling. And people just need to realize how important it is to donate."

The decision to donate her child's organs was not difficult to make, because Sewalish says she knew her daughter's wishes.

"I knew that if I had to make that decision, I would do it," Sewalish says. "Two weeks prior to Heidi's accident, her and I were watching a program on The Learning Channel, and they were talking about organ donation. And Heidi said to me, 'Mom, if I go before you, will you donate my organs?' and I swear she had a premonition. I really think she knew that her time was coming."

The story is featured in the June issue of Family Circle magazine. Family Circle editor-in-chief Susan Ungaro notes even though organ donation can be difficult to talk about, it is a very important conversation to have.

She says, "It's not a terrible morbid subject because look at what can come out of it. I just think we need to make our families understand that the gift of life can continue even after some of us are gone."

According to Lifenet, one of 58 organ and tissue donation agencies in the United States, there is a critical shortage of organs.

More than 88,000 people here are awaiting an organ transplant. On average, 18 people die each day waiting for a life-saving transplant.

But it takes just one donor to save seven lives through organ donation, and enhance more than 50 lives through tissue donation. Organs and tissues that can be donated include: hearts, kidneys, lungs, pancreases, livers, intestines, corneas, skin, tendons, bone, and heart valves.

To be an organ and tissue donor, the most important thing you can do is to document your decision.

Ungaro says, "If as an adult you want to be an organ donor, you need to make sure that your loved ones know because hospitals will still ask for permission."

Planning for such a possibility in advance and making your decision known increases the likelihood of your wishes being followed upon your death. It's also a good idea to provide a copy of your organ donor documentation to your health care provider and hospital to be kept with your medical records.

Find out how to be become an organ and tissue donor in your state by visiting www.donatelife.net.