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May 9, 2008 6:00 pm US/Eastern
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Health: The Gift Of Giving
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
Mother's Day has a special meaning for families who struggle with life-threatening diseases. Medical Reporter Stephanie Stahl has a heart-warming story of two moms showing a special kind of gratitude.
Every day is Mother's Day for Samantha Kellner and Heather Thomson. Their young sons are alive because of organ donors.
"When you have a sick child, your world is just turned upside down and you feel helpless," said Samantha.
Both boys had liver conditions that would have been fatal. They received transplants when they were just months old.
"We were the lucky ones," said Samantha.
Now they're giving back.
Samantha started The Kellner Family Pediatric Liver Disease Foundation, a baby transplant foundation, that's raised more than $650,000 dollars.
Heather is using her clothing line "Yummie Tummie" to raise money for the cause.
"I myself will kick off a green yummy tummy where all the proceeds will go to organ donation and organ donation awareness," said Heather.
There are more than 2,000 children in the United States waiting for an organ to save their lives. 100,000 people in all. Each day, 18 of them die.
"It is allowing that that death become the life for one or more people that many donor families find some solace," said Julia Rivera, with the New York Organ Donor Network.
"And there's this beautiful belly and this wonderful, gorgeous scar that we love, that we love," said Samantha.
This mom and son have a permanent reminder of how lucky they are. A reflection of how many lives can be saved by a simple act of kindness.
While the need is incredible, so is the ability of one person to make a difference. Each organ donor can save up to eight lives.
RELATED LINKS:
The Kellner Family Foundation
Gift of Life Donor Program
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)