Holly Bunting: Becoming a Star

Holly Bunting was an inquisitive third-grade student with beautiful, blue eyes and long, blonde hair. She was an extremely talented 8-year-old who loved singing and aspired to be an actress.

Holly’s bright personality touched those around her, and her dreams of becoming a star lead her parents to take her to acting casting calls; however, Holly’s life abruptly ended when she was involved in a collision with a semi-truck in December 2012.

Although her life tragically was cut short, Holly still became a star through her gifts of organ and tissue donation. She heroically saved the lives of four people, ranging from 4 to 65 years old, through organ donation and enhanced the lives of many more through tissue donation.

Holly’s parents, Jennifer Salsberry-Banks and Cameron Bunting, have become outstanding advocates for organ donation following their daughter’s death. Both are trained volunteers through LifeQuest Organ Recovery Services.

“On social media, I like and love every story I see,” Jennifer said. “I got a tattoo of Holly’s drawings on my arm, and it brings up organ donation with people I meet. I public speak frequently, sharing the importance of organ donation.”

They both encourage discussing organ donation with family members before any difficult decisions need to be made.

“People don’t talk about organ donation enough,” Cameron said. “Organs have so much more life left once a person is gone. We might as well give them to someone else who needs them.”