Mom Killed Saving Son Lives On Through Organ Donation
NORTH ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- Three weeks ago a young mother lost her life while trying to cross a busy highway in North St. Paul. But she is living on through in others through organ donation.
Alicia Galdick, 23, was hit by a car while pushing her son's stroller across Highway 36. She was a single mother who had been going to school to become a nurse.
Her 2-year-old son Michael was also injured in the accident, but thanks to his mother, he survived.
"She loved coming here. The Sunday before the accident they were fishing, his first time, catching fish," said Laura De Mulling, Alicia's mom.
Laura remembers taking her daughter Alicia to Silver Lake Park when Alicia was just a kid. Years later she watched as Alicia would bring her own son to the same park.
"Their smiles are identical. He's got her same kind of quirky sense of humor. I see that a lot in him. His eyes are hers," said Laura.
But family trips to the park will never be the same. After being injured in the accident, Michael spent four days in a medically-induced coma, but survived.
Now Laura wants to be sure Michael remembers his mother.
"As hard as losing her was that understanding her wishes made it a little bit easier," Laura said.
Alicia was a 23-year-old organ donor. After the accident, she was kept on life support for three days so her organs could be given to someone else.
She died that Sunday morning with her family close by. Five of her organs, including her heart, now live on in other people.
Alicia was an avid volunteer, always looking to give back. It's one of many traits Laura is hoping Michael learned from his mother during their short time together.
"Whenever you spoke to her she always ended every conversation with 'I love you.' Which was a tremendous gift because I talked to her the day she passed and she said 'Bye mom, I love you.' So at least I got to hear that one more time," said Laura.
She said Michael is living with her now and she is hoping to legally adopt him. Laura said her daughter had also volunteered at a battered women's shelter and at a local food shelf, and had recently received a degree to become a certified nursing assistant.
Laura said she is hoping to one day meet the people who received Alicia's organs.
