Katheryn “Katie” Yomes, of Butler, was caring and compassionate during her short life, according to an article on Page 1 in the Sunday Butler Eagle, but she was even more selfless in death.

Yomes donated her heart and kidneys, plus tissue after her untimely death at age 27 on Nov. 23.

The ultimate act of generosity — deciding during her life to be an organ donor — provides a small measure of solace to Yomes’ mother and siblings, who remain devastated at her passing after a brief illness.

Yomes’ heart and kidneys went to three separate people, which her mother, Rachel Yomes, pointed out will likely prevent the recipients’ families from feeling the emptiness of losing a loved one that she grapples with every day.

“I know that if Katie’s life could have been saved by an organ donation, I would have been beyond grateful,” Rachel Yomes said.

The tissue donated by Yomes will help various people over the next few years, her mother said.

The Yomes story is a great if heartbreaking way to wrap up National Donate Life Month, which is held each April.

The Eagle hopes everyone getting a drivers license or renewing one will check the “organ donor” box so they, too, can give the gift of life should something unimaginable happen.

In most donations from a dying patient, they never expected to be in that position, either.

A representative of the Pennsylvania chapter of the Center for Organ Recovery and Education said in the Sunday article that organ donation month serves not only to raise awareness, but to honor those who have donated.

In Pennsylvania, 100,000 people wait for organs, yet only 50% are registered as donors, according to the center.

The last line of Yomes’ obituary reads “Katie held onto life long enough to share the gift of life by donating her organs.”

We hope those words of generosity resonate deeply with the residents of Butler County, who are notorious for their giving nature.

— PG