TOLEDO, Ohio — Jaylah Perry, 15, was shot in central Toledo last month and later died at the hospital. Toledo firefighter Myles Copeland was one of the first paramedics at the scene.
"Since it was a traumatic arrest, we wanted to focus on getting her to the hospital as soon as possible," Copeland said. "We were able to make it to the hospital. She did have a pulse at the time we got to the hospital. We did everything we could."
Despite everyone's best efforts, Jaylah died at the hospital. Amid their grief, her family had a decision to make: should Jaylah's organs be donated?
"Organ donation often results from a very tragic, unexpected loss," said Kara Steele, director of community services for Life Connection of Ohio.
Jaylah's family chose to donate through Life Connection of Ohio and six people in different states became recipients.
"I thought that was an amazing gesture," said Jamar Winston, Toledo Fire & Rescue Department spokesperson. "I had to go back and think about how incredibly strong the parents of the individuals that made the decisions to donate the organs to the others that were in need."
Life Connection of Ohio says one person has the ability to save up to eight lives with organ donation and 125 more people with tissue donations.
Now, Jaylah won't only live on with her loved ones, she will also live on through the lives of the recipients she saved, too.
"Despite the circumstances of her death, Jaylah had the last word," Steele said. "She was able to save lives through organ donation, which is an incredible, life-saving legacy."