IOPO®: Indiana Organ Procurement Organization, Inc.

Donor Quilts

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Rebecca Jean Klemen

Rebecca Jean Klemen

June 24, 1985 — June 15, 2000

Rebecca Jean Klemen "Becky" was a wonderful teenager. She loved life, she swam like a fish, she played golf, she loved to sing, and she made jewelry. Becky was an all American girl, beautiful on the outside, but with an exceptional beauty on the inside.

The first time I saw her she was almost two years old; I live in North Carolina and she lived in Indiana. Here this little dark curly hair imp with the longest dark eyelashes you ever saw took me and my husband as if she had seen us every day of her life. She also took out little dog Pete, she just wanted to hold him "one more minute." At every visit I saw this marvelous child that loved not only her parents and brother, but everyone around her and you always felt her love.

She and I were somewhat kindred spirits; her mom often said she was so much like me. Becky asked me once why we were so different. I told her maybe everyone else was different and we were normal. But normal is too small of a word to describe her. Becky like this quilt piece, was a stunning butterfly; her wings finally starting to open but too quickly she was gone. On June 14, 2000 she was swimming with her friends at the school’s gym and after making a long length of the pool underwater she collapsed and despite efforts of school teachers, EMT's, Lifeline crews, and two hospitals she died on June 15, 2000 at the age of 14, just 9 days away form her 15th birthday. Too soon for such a pure soul. I want "just one more minute."

You are always in my heart,

---- Love Aunt Kay