My daughter, Laura Klui, experienced sudden cardiac arrest and passed away unexpectedly at the age of 32, leaving behind a family that adored her—her mother (me); her brother Jonathan; her sister-in-law Martiana; her beloved nephew and nieces Dominic, Gianna, and Catherine, and many friends.
Laura was the light and love of my life—a bright, compassionate young woman who brought joy to everyone around her. We always liked to say that we were best friends first and mother and daughter second. The pain of losing Laura has been profound for all of us; but though she is no longer with us, we are comforted by the thought that her life continues, in part, through her organ donations.
I never truly understood what the words "I miss you" meant until I reached for your hand and it wasn't there.
Laura was a wonderful 32-year-old young woman full of life, laughter, and kindness. She loved music and would often get lost in the melodies and words of her favorite songs. She also loved swimming, wave diving, kayaking, cycling, and her cherished dog Casey and cat Tilly. We moved to Rehoboth Beach together in 2021 and were both so happy here. She had started taking surfing lessons shortly before her sudden death and was excited about this new challenge. Over the years, we saw many Broadway shows, concerts, and ballets together. We also went on many trips together: Cancun, Niagara Falls, Washington, DC, Charleston, Savannah, Chincoteague, Philadelphia, Atlanta, plus many trips to our happy place—Lake George.
The decision to donate her organs was entirely hers—made years ago and diligently documented on every driver’s license—because she knew the difference it could make to someone's life. Because of her generous heart, it was not a decision I ever had to struggle with. I already knew what she wanted, and I simply carried out her wishes.
I know that Laura would be overjoyed to know she was able to make a difference in the lives of her organ recipients with the gifts of her lungs, kidneys, corneas, bone grafts, and skin grafts. She lived by the adage “pay it forward,” always looking for ways to help others—even total strangers. Although Laura’s passing left an irreparable hole in our family, we find solace in knowing that something so meaningful came from our tragic loss and that her legacy continues to bring hope and healing in a way that is both heartbreaking and as beautiful as Laura was.
