DANIELLE: LIFECENTER TOLD ME, IN THE AREA THEY SERVE AROUND 60% OF PEOPLE ARE SIGNED UP TO BE DONORS. ONE OF THEM WAS CAYDEN TURNER. IT IS VERY FITTING THAT IN HER LIFE, A GIRL WHO GAVE SO MUCH, THAT HER FINAL ACT WAS TO CONTINUE TO HELP OTHERS. A SMILE THAT LIT UP A ROOM. CAYDEN TURNER WAS FULL OF LIFE. >> SHE WAS MY ANGEL HERE. NOW SHE WILL BE MORE OF AN ANGELIC ANGEL. DANIELLE: THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENED WHEN CAYDEN WAS KILLED LAST WEEK. THE U.C. FRESHMAN WAS CROSSING THE STREET WHEN POLICE SAY SHE WAS HIT BY A STOLEN CAR. SHE WAS ONLY 18. >> AT LEAST I CAN HAVE COMFORT WHEN I HAVE MY BAD TIMES THAT SHE IS LIVING THROUGH SOMEONE ELSE. DANIELLE: IN HER YOUNG LIFE, SHE WAS CALLED TO GIVE. HELPING HER FAMILY, ENSURING EVERYONE FIT IN. EVEN NOW, CAYDEN IS GIVING, BUT THIS GIFT THEM OF THE GIFT OF LIFE. >> SHE IS ABLE TO GIVE HER CORNEA. SHE GAVE SKIN, SO BURN VICTIMS. BONE MARROW SHE WAS ABLE TO GIVE. PEOPLE WITH HIP REPLACEMENT NEEDS, INFUSION. DANIELLE: AS A TISSUE DONOR, 70 TO 100 PEOPLE WILL HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE. LIFECENTER ORGAN DONATION NETWORK HOPES A TRAGEDY BECOMES INSPIRATION. >> I THINK THE BEAUTY OF SOMEBODY THAT IS A YOUNGER DONOR, WHILE THAT IS EXCRUCIATING FOR EVERY FAMILY TO GO THROUGH, THOSE PATIENTS, ALSO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO HELP YOUNGER PATIENTS HAVE A QUALITY OF LIFE. DANIELLE: CAYDEN’S JOURNEY ON EARTH ENDING TOO SOON, BUT NOT WITHOUT MEANING. >> SHE WAS VERY SPECIAL. SHE BROUGHT LIGHT TO EVERYBODY. >> SHE WAS ABLE TO GIVE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE LIFE, OR MORE TIME ON THIS EARTH. DANIELLE: YOU JUST HEARD IT IN THE STORY, CAYDEN’S GIFTS ARE ABLE TO HELP 70 TO 100 PEOPLE. AS A TISSUE DONOR, SHE CONTINUED TO GIVE
Gift of Life: UC freshman killed in hit-and-run gives others another chance at life
Updated: 11:26 PM EDT Oct 4, 2022
Cayden Turner was full of life and had a smile that could light up a room."She was my angel here," her mother, S'keisha Rembert-Wilkerson, said. "Now, she's more of an angelic angel."Last Wednesday, the unthinkable happened — Turner died. She and another student were crossing Jefferson Ave. in a marked crosswalk when they were hit by a car. According to police, a suspected stolen 2014 Honda CR-V ran through a stoplight and struck the girls. The car sped off, crashed into a tree, and the driver fled.Both victims were taken to the hospital with serious injuries. One girl was treated and released, but Turner died at the hospital."At least I can have comfort when I have my bad times that she's living through someone else," Rembert-Wilkerson, said.In Turner's young life, she was called to give. She was an Eagle Ambassador of Chaminade Julienne High School in Dayton. Turner completed many volunteer hours, helped her family, and ensured everyone fit in. Even in her death, Turned continued her work giving the gift of life."She was able to give the gift of sight and her corneas," Rembert-Wilkerson, said. "She gave the gift of skin for burn victims, and she also gave bone marrow to help people with hip replacement and when others need infusions."As a tissue donor, Turner will give 70 to 100 people another chance at life.LifeCenter Organ Donation Network hopes her tragedy becomes an inspiration."Those gifts can give somebody back a quality of life that they would never have had," Tissue Services Director Robert Winter said. "I think the beauty of somebody that's a younger donating, while that's certainly excruciating for any family to go through, is that those patients also have the potential to help younger patients have a quality of life. Whether through spinal surgery, sports injury, or cancer."Turner's journey on earth ended too soon but not without meaning."She's just very special," stepfather Jermaine Wilkerson said. "She brought light to everybody.""She was able to give a lot of other people life and more time on this earth," Rembert-Wilkerson, said.
Cayden Turner was full of life and had a smile that could light up a room.
"She was my angel here," her mother, S'keisha Rembert-Wilkerson, said. "Now, she's more of an angelic angel."
Last Wednesday, the unthinkable happened — Turner died. She and another student were crossing Jefferson Ave. in a marked crosswalk when they were hit by a car.
According to police, a suspected stolen 2014 Honda CR-V ran through a stoplight and struck the girls. The car sped off, crashed into a tree, and the driver fled.
Both victims were taken to the hospital with serious injuries. One girl was treated and released, but Turner died at the hospital.
"At least I can have comfort when I have my bad times that she's living through someone else," Rembert-Wilkerson, said.
In Turner's young life, she was called to give. She was an Eagle Ambassador of Chaminade Julienne High School in Dayton. Turner completed many volunteer hours, helped her family, and ensured everyone fit in. Even in her death, Turned continued her work giving the gift of life.
"She was able to give the gift of sight and her corneas," Rembert-Wilkerson, said. "She gave the gift of skin for burn victims, and she also gave bone marrow to help people with hip replacement and when others need infusions."
As a tissue donor, Turner will give 70 to 100 people another chance at life.
LifeCenter Organ Donation Network hopes her tragedy becomes an inspiration.
"Those gifts can give somebody back a quality of life that they would never have had," Tissue Services Director Robert Winter said. "I think the beauty of somebody that's a younger donating, while that's certainly excruciating for any family to go through, is that those patients also have the potential to help younger patients have a quality of life. Whether through spinal surgery, sports injury, or cancer."
Turner's journey on earth ended too soon but not without meaning.
"She's just very special," stepfather Jermaine Wilkerson said. "She brought light to everybody."
"She was able to give a lot of other people life and more time on this earth," Rembert-Wilkerson, said.
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