Samantha's life touches others

The story of Moses Lake teen Samantha Wibberding touched the hearts of several Columbia Basin Herald readers, according to the 157 Facebook "likes" and 26 online comments made. (This is in addition to the thousands of our print and online readers who simply read the article without commenting)

Readers praised the family for helping others and some even shared memories of Samantha, who was studying to become a nurse and played hockey.

Wibberding, 19, died by suicide in March. Despite their grief, her parents, Bill and Janice Wibberding, decided to donate their daughter's organs upon request at the hospital. Her heart, kidney, liver, eyes, an elbow, skin and a knee went to about 30 people.

The couple heard back from two people who received their daughter's life-saving organs, Donovan, a kidney recipient, and Kimberly, a heart recipient, who later finished a five-kilometer race.

The Wibberdings lost a daughter, but gained the awareness that her life helped others after her death. They turned a tragedy into a story of inspiration and are truly an example to others about coping with a difficult situation.

There are a few messages to be heard from this story, the importance of suicide prevention, and educating people about organ donation.

If you are thinking about suicide or have concerns about a friend or family member, there is help.

Grant County Mental Health is located at 840 East Plum St. in Moses Lake, while Adams County Mental Health is at 425 East Main St., Othello. Both offices are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

After hours, help is available by phone.

The Grant County crisis number is 509-765-1717 or toll free at 877-467-4303. The crisis line number in Adams County is 509-488-5611.

To learn more about organ donation, visit www.organdonor.gov, www.donatelifetoday.com/register_online/sign_up.php. or call LifeCenter Northwest at 1-877-275-5269.

- Editorial Board