“To know one life breathed easier because you lived is to know you truly succeeded.”
Amber collapsed walking into work at Ice Cream Corner in Scott City, on April 3, 2008. It was a Thursday. I had just talked to her on my way home from work. Amber had a seizure, and her heart stopped beating. She was taken to Saint Francis Medical Center where I work. They were able to get her heart beating. Surrounded by family, friends and work family was a great help. She was transported to Children’s Hospital on life support. After four days and many tests, my little girl was declared brain dead. I asked for transplant services. I had worked in healthcare for 24 years, five of those years in the Emergency Room, and I just knew what to do. Amber passed on April 7, 2008. She was 16 years old, just 3 months shy of her 17th birthday. She was excited to be going to prom that weekend with one of her bowling friends and had her dress all ready. In fact, it’s the blue one in the picture we submitted for the 2018 Celebrate Life 5K Run/Walk (above).
Amber was an honor student, played softball and volleyball, bowled and was a student helper for the girls’ basketball team. She also was on the track team, participating in discus and shotput. She really enjoyed her music and played in band. Amber liked to get involved in everything. She loved hanging out with her friends and best friend Harley. She talked about joining the military like her sister Erika and brother Todd. We talked all time about what she wanted to be when she grew up. Amber was the baby of my three children; she was the last one in the nest. I feel like I have two children who flew off and soared in this crazy world, and my youngest just hit the ground just when it was her time to soar.
I crawled in a hole for several years and told everyone I was fine; I wasn’t. Amber once said to me: “If anything should every happen to me, I want you to go on and have a wonderful life and not sit by my grave and cry.” Why she said this, only God knows. Slowly with time, family, and friends, the days got better with the love and support of my wonderful new husband Robbie Slusher and with another Donor Family, Sara and Chris Snider. We got involved Mid-America Transplant, and we were able to go to the 2018 Transplant Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. We saw all the wonderful recipients, who treated us as if we were their donor family. We also loved meeting other Donor Families who have helped us in more ways than I can ever mention. We have walked in Mid-America Transplant’s Celebrate Life 5K Run/Walk the last two years, volunteered at Green-Up Games, set up a registration booth at the SEMO District Fair, volunteered and supported at Team Transplant St. Louis’ Trivia Night for the 2020 Transplant Games. I am training to become a speaker for Mid-America Transplant to educate others about organ and tissue donation. I feel this is what my purpose is, to educate and honor and keep Amber’s memory and legacy alive.
Amber’s donor legacy includes her pancreas, liver, small intestines, eyes, skin, heart valves, vessels, bones and tissue. Her liver was donated to a now 53-year-old man from Illinois, her right kidney to a now 64-year-old gentleman from Illinois, and her left kidney was donated to a now 43-year-old gentleman from Missouri. Two individuals were given the gift of sight with her corneas. Amber’s gift touches the lives of not only her recipients but also their many family and friends.
I did not talk with Amber about organ donation. I just felt that it is what she would have wanted. Turns out, I believe I was right. My oldest daughter Erika found a Donate Life bracelet in Amber’s pony tail jar when we returned home from St. Louis. My daughter Amber loved, laughed, played, and truly would make your whole day when she smiled.
-Teri Slusher, Amber’s mother
