Generosity that Lives On

August 20, 2020:

Kimberly Morales was the youngest of four siblings, with 15 years between herself and the oldest. She was sassy, determined and as her mother described, “spoiled by all.”

Kimberly had an active childhood. She played soccer for a couple seasons. She enjoyed musical theater and acrobatics. Her true love, though, was dance.

“When she started dancing, she took two classes,” Kimberly’s mother, Sherry, said. “At the time of her death, she was taking 11 classes. She took classes in every style of dance, but Irish dance was her favorite. She liked the movement of dancing with her feet.”

On January 20, 2019, Kimberly was involved in an ATV accident while visiting her best friend’s house in Williston, Florida. Three days later, she was declared brain dead. Kimberly was 9 years old.

“I spoke to Kimberly 30 minutes before her accident,” Sherry said. “She begged me to spend the night at her best friend’s house, and she thanked me for letting her. We always said ‘I love you’ before hanging up the phone. This time, she said to ‘tell everyone I love them.’ Thirty minutes later, an officer called me telling me they’re trying to revive my daughter. You never know when something so precious can be taken from you.”

Though the Morales family experienced an enormous tragedy, they knew what they wanted Kimberly’s legacy to be: a hero who generously gave the Gift of Life.

“Kimberly had a huge heart,” Sherry said. “She gave to everyone. She gave to other kids who didn’t have as many toys. She bought ice cream for kids at school. Kimberly gave, gave, gave. And her heart saved a little girl’s life.”

On January 27, Kimberly saved four lives as an organ donor. She donated both her kidneys, her liver and her heart. She would also donate tissue and her cornea, enhancing the lives of dozens more people.

“The time spent in the hospital waiting for her organs to be matched was good for me because I got to spend time with her – my baby,” Sherry said.

Since Kimberly’s passing, her family created the Kimberly Morales Memorial Foundation to help church organizations, provide scholarships for continuing education, share the joy of dance and further educate about the importance of organ donation.

“Why be selfish and take your organs with you when they can help someone?” Sherry said. “What greater joy can I have than to know others can do things Kimberly could do? They can run, jump, dance. Kimberly had so much energy and was so full of life. What greater joy can I have than my daughter giving life?”