Hope for the Holidays celebration honors families of organ donors

THE PARKERSBURG NEWS AND SENTINEL | Janelle Patterson

Linda Marks, 59, of Belpre, makes an ornament in honor of the person who donated her heart at the Hope for the Holidays event at Strecker Cancer Center in Marietta. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)

MARIETTA — Mindy Starcher, 38, of Marietta, and her sister Lori Hodge, 38, choked back tears as they shared stories of their mother, Charlene “Chuckie”Goudy, at the Hope for the Holidays event Monday at the Memorial Health System’s Strecker Cancer Center.

Goudy donated her eyes and skin when she passed away in May.

The event, organized by Lifeline of Ohio and the health system, focused on the families of those who have donated organs and tissue to save or improve someone’s life.

“Being here and knowing there are people who appreciate her donation, it’s still very fresh to us,” said Starcher. “But we’re here to celebrate that as her final act she was able to make people happy.”

Starcher’s daughter Kiera, 11, said she missed her grandmother but was excited to remember her through a Christmas tree ornament Monday. Continue reading

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