A Mother’s Love Keeps Her Daughter’s Legacy of Hope Alive

For a mother, the passing of a child is a devastating loss that only faith and time can heal. Such is the case for Carolina Nuñez, who lost her daughter Kassandra Castillo, a young motivated, compassionate woman, who lost her life in a car accident shortly after graduating high school. She was just 18 years old.

For Carolina Núñez, this mother’s day and many other commemorative dates will now have a new significance because her daughter will no longer be physically with her; although her essence and memory will remain present in her heart and in the lives of those that Kassandra helped save.

When the doctors notified Kassandra’s family that she had passed away, a Gift of Hope representative spoke with Mrs. Núñez about the possibility of saving other lives through the donation of Kassandra’s organs. Nuñez did not hesitate and immediately authorized the donation, certain that this is what Kassandra would have wanted.

Although she was overwhelmed by the paralyzing pain over her loss and the memories of her daughter, Nuñez decided to establish the Kassandra Lives Foundation to carry out the plans and goals that her daughter had hoped to accomplish. Kassandra Lives aims to help the children and youth of Chicago accomplish their dreams of a promising and harmonious future, a true reflexion of Kassandra’s wishes. “The bereavement psychologist recommended that I find an activity and purpose that would encourage me to go on, and it was in that moment that I decided that Kassandra and I would together continue to offer help through this foundation to those in need,” said Mrs. Núñez. The legacy of hope that Kassandra has left for us: “Life keeps going even if you stop”, shows us that it is never too early or too late to give the very best of us. For more information about organ and tissue donation visit: www.giftofhope.org