Children’s Mercy honors families who turned loss into life

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A rose is a symbol of love, loss and renewal. As we near Valentine’s Day weekend, one local hospital is honoring families who turned their loss into hope for others.

Saturday, Children’s Mercy Hospital held its Gift of Life Ceremony. The event honored 25 families who donated their loved ones' organs to save the lives of others.

We spoke with Michele Shanahan-Demoss, Blair Shanahan-Lane’s mother. Blair died after she was hit in the neck by a stray bullet on July 4. Her organs saved the lives of five other people.

Hannah Wastlund, 19, said she is alive today thanks to an organ donor.

"I think about it every day, and even coming to places like this, and seeing other people that have had their family donate, it just makes you think even more about it and be more appreciative,” Wastlund said.

More than 28,000 lives in the United States were saved through organ transplants. For additional information on becoming a donor, visit http://www.organdonor.gov