Vicky Niblett hangs an ornament on the Angel Tree in honor of her daughter Zara Beth, who died soon after birth. DAVE ELLIS/THE FREE LANCE-STAR View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

Annual event honors gifts of 'angels'

Date published: 11/21/2009

BY AARON RICHARDSON

Vicky Niblett's daughter Zara died moments after birth.

Despite her grief, Niblett knew she wanted her child to be an organ donor.

"If there was any way that we could help another family in our situation, then we'd definitely do that," said Niblett, a Stafford County resident.

Niblett's daughter was one of 140 organ donors recognized at a special event last night at Mary Washington Hospital.

The Angel Tree ceremony, a tradition since 2001, attracts families of organ donors and grateful organ recipients who celebrate the gift of life.

Last night, families of donors hung engraved glass ornaments on a tree in the Mary Washington Hospital lobby to commemorate their family members' contributions to others. The event is sponsored by the hospital and LifeNet Health.

For Niblett, whose daughter died on Dec. 22, 2007, knowing that her daughter's organs helped save lives cushioned the blow of the loss.

"After a year, I got in touch with LifeNet," she said. "They said, 'Two babies are alive because of Zara Beth.'"

Niblett said she was helped through her loss by Tammy Ruiz, perinatal bereavement coordinator at MWH.

"Tammy took her hand impressions and her feet impressions and a wisp of her hair," Niblett said. "At the time, I would have never in a million, million years thought to do that, but now they're my most prized possessions."

Anne Kirchmier, a heart transplant recipient from Stafford, spoke at the ceremony about the difference her organ donor made in her life.

Kirchmier, 51, spent 12 years struggling with a debilitating heart condition before receiving a transplant in 2007.

Before her heart problems began, Kirchmier, who calls her donor "Amy," was a long-distance runner. As her illness advanced and she could no longer run, she felt more and more helpless.

"I felt very alone and very afraid," she said.

With her transplant successful, Kirchmier has been able to take up running again. In August she traveled to Australia, where she took gold for Team USA in the 3,000-meter race in the Transplant Olympic Games.

Kirchmier gives all the credit for her win to her donor, and always refers to her running as a team effort.

As a way of thanking her donor's family, Kirchmier has framed her gold medal from Australia and is sending it to them.

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Date published: 11/21/2009