Two years ago, around 150 Bellevue firefighters lined the halls of Virginia Mason Hospital to say goodbye to their comrade, Deanna Carr. An American flag had been draped over the body of the firefighter of 22 years as doctors wheeled her body into the operating room to start the organ donation process.
“They were awash in emotion. They had never seen anything like this before,” former Bellevue firefighter and current Deputy Chief of Eastside Fire and Rescue Richard Burke said. “But that was the respect and what she deserved. That was our way of keeping her memory alive.”
But in the midst of their sorrow, the crowd found a reason to smile. Even in her death, Carr was giving the gift of life.