CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The Iowa Donor Network is honoring a young girl who saved six lives after her death through organ donation.
Natalie McCleary’s family describes her as a classic overachiever in academics, extracurriculars and everything in between.
“She had 13 years on the earth, she made quite an impact in 13 years,” said Matt McCleary.
Though her parents say she found success wherever she tried, Natalie was quietly battling depression, and she took her own life at just 13 years old.
Her parents say that tragedy isn’t what defines her.
“She cut her hair two times and give to wigs for kids, so we knew she would want that,” said Amanda McCleary.
After her death, Natalie’s parents chose to have her organs donated. That decision provided lifesaving procedures for six people.
“Her heart went to a 9-year-old girl who had been on the transplant list for a while… and I hope someday to be able to meet that little girl and hear it again,” said Amanda McCleary.
Now the family works to carry on, pushing other people to become donors themselves and working to break the stigma around mental illness.
On January 1st, McCleary will be honored at the Donate Life float in the Rose Parade in California. A long, bittersweet trip for the McClearys, but they’ll tell you it’s just the start of Natalie’s legacy.
“We certainly have a hole in our heart. There’s 6 other families around that don’t have to have that hole,” said Matt McCleary
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