Gov. Inslee presents Gift of Life Award to Auburn family
Published 12:52 pm Monday, April 20, 2015
For the Reporter
Gov. Jay Inslee honored the family of Rachel Givens, of Auburn, with The Gift of Life Award at an April 16 ceremony in the Capitol Dome.
Givens was one of 137 donors from the state honored in Olympia.
April is Donate Life Month.
Inslee honored each of the donors by reading their names next to a tributary vase of roses with messages from loved ones attached.
“Organ, eye and tissue donation is something personally close to my life, and I am thankful every day that someone chose the Gift of Life when it came to my son,” Inslee said. “I am truly honored to be able to give this award to the family members of these generous Washingtonians.”
Inslee also presented a floral portrait, or floragraph, of Rachel to the Givens family. The floragraph, which the family decorated with Rachel’s likeness, rode on the Donate Life Float on New Year’s Day in the Pasadena (Calif.) Rose Parade.
Rachel Lucy Givens was a sports star of the court and field at Auburn Riverside High School. She returned home to teach at the Muckleshoot Tribal School, where she was a member, a para-educator and a coach.
A hit-and-run driver’s car struck Rachel as she crossed the East Valley Highway in Sumner on Oct. 7, 2013. She was transported to Tacoma General Hospital in critical condition and died two days later. She was 23.
The driver of the vehicle – a small dark sedan or sports car heading north on East Valley Highway – still hasn’t stepped forward, nor has anyone turned them in.
Laura Givens said she doesn’t hold a grudge toward the unknown driver, nor does she need to blame anyone for her daughter’s death.
“I don’t need that. That person lives with what she or he has done … every day they have to live with what happened,” Laura Givens said. “I have no hate toward them because you can’t hate.”
It’s a lesson she learned from Rachel.
Rachel saved five lives through organ donation and countless others through the donation of her tissues and corneas, according to LifeCenter Northwest.
“Rachel’s giving nature really defined her life,” said Kevin O’Connor, CEO of LifeCenter Northwest. “The generosity exhibited in her life continues on through her organ, tissue and cornea donation. We are ever so grateful for Rachel’s gifts.”
