Organ donors honored at ceremony in Charleston

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) — Even in life’s darkest moments, families are still finding ways to provide hope for others.

On Sunday, 41 organ, tissue and cornea donors were honored at CORE’s Special Place Ceremony in Charleston.

“In 2009, I got the call that saved my life, and I had a viable donor, and I received a transplant. So it’ll be 15 years next month,” said Cybele Boehm, a kidney recipient.

This was the gift of life.

“It’s called special place. And it’s for families who donated organs, tissues, and corneas in 2023. And today it’s about honoring their loved one and the legacy that they have left, asking nothing in return,” said Susan Stuart, CEO and President of CORE

Stuart said the ceremony is a day of healing for families and recipients. Cybele Boehm was just 35 when she received her transplant, a life-changing operation, that led to her becoming a volunteer with CORE for 13 years.

“Those people made a very selfless decision to be organ donors. So it is a very moving event and I’m very happy to be here,” said Boehm

The goal of the ceremony is to help people know that they are not alone in their journey.

“And behind me, you’ll see these quilts, they’ll bring a quilt patch with them today, and we’ll put it on a temporary quilt and then eventually that will be made into a permanent quilt that will travel all over West Virginia and Pennsylvania, raising awareness of the great need and also a reminder for anyone who looks at the quilt; somebody made that choice to give the give of life,” said Susun Stuart, CEO and President of CORE

Because of these donors, thousands of lives were touched and changed for the better. Pieces of the donors live on in those they saved, and their gift remains in the hearts of the patient’s loved ones.

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