Living a Life with Heart
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Marissa Murrow, a 19-year-old from Mustang, Okla., lived her life guided by love. She made a profound impact in her 19 years on earth. She was a light to many in her life; her friends described her as a ‘ray of sunshine’ with a ‘heart of gold’ and ‘contagious smile’.
Music was a part of Marissa’s soul. Starting at a young age, she started “Marissa Radio.” She would often ask her family to turn off the car radio before she began taking requests from the back seat. She would either sing along to the requested song or begin singing a song she wanted to sing. She would do this often. She eventually shared this part of herself with others by helping lead music in her church’s youth group. She made friends easily, despite being shy, likely because of the kindness she offered others – making everyone feel like her best friend. Marissa was a competitive cheerleader and a manager of her high school’s wrestling team. She later went on to graduate as valedictorian before starting college, studying to be a special education teacher. Marissa’s sorority sisters described her as ‘the kind of person everyone strives to be. Your go-to girl for advice, who listened without judgement and showed kindness.’ |
She undoubtedly loved others deeply and had a unique gift of making others feel like they were precious to her – because they were. Marissa loved experiencing new things, coffee runs, late night drives, shopping, and traveling. She also loved going to the lake with her family and friends.
At 16, she went to get her driver’s license and returned home to show her parents the little red heart on the new license. Marissa was proud of her decision as it was a reflection of her values of aiming to be kind, compassionate, and giving in all that she did in life. She was driven to live a life that made a difference in the world.
After a head on collision with a drunk driver during her sophomore year of college, Marissa succumbed to the injuries she sustained in the crash.
Her parents knew she was a donor, and supported the decision she made when she was 16 years old.
Marissa’s kindness, thoughtfulness and compassion in life allowed her to continue living on through meaningful legacies. She was able to become an organ and tissue donor – saving three lives and impacting countless recipients through her gifts as a tissue donor.
April is National Donate Life Month. Across the United States, more than 114,000 individuals wait for an organ transplant to save their life. Thousands more need tissue and corneal transplants to restore mobility and sight. Without the generous gift of more than 20,000 donors in the United States each year, many would still be waiting for a lifesaving gift.
LifeShare is honoring those who have given the gift of life by celebrating National Donate Life Month. You can give the gift of life by registering to be an organ, eye and tissue donor at LifeShareRegistry.org.
At 16, she went to get her driver’s license and returned home to show her parents the little red heart on the new license. Marissa was proud of her decision as it was a reflection of her values of aiming to be kind, compassionate, and giving in all that she did in life. She was driven to live a life that made a difference in the world.
After a head on collision with a drunk driver during her sophomore year of college, Marissa succumbed to the injuries she sustained in the crash.
Her parents knew she was a donor, and supported the decision she made when she was 16 years old.
Marissa’s kindness, thoughtfulness and compassion in life allowed her to continue living on through meaningful legacies. She was able to become an organ and tissue donor – saving three lives and impacting countless recipients through her gifts as a tissue donor.
April is National Donate Life Month. Across the United States, more than 114,000 individuals wait for an organ transplant to save their life. Thousands more need tissue and corneal transplants to restore mobility and sight. Without the generous gift of more than 20,000 donors in the United States each year, many would still be waiting for a lifesaving gift.
LifeShare is honoring those who have given the gift of life by celebrating National Donate Life Month. You can give the gift of life by registering to be an organ, eye and tissue donor at LifeShareRegistry.org.
