A young girl, found lifeless last week in a Brampton backyard pool, has been taken off life support so that her organs could be donated to help five other children.
She had been at a barbecue last Thursday afternoon when she disappeared from view for about 15 minutes. Horrified onlookers found her at the bottom of a swimming pool.
Paramedics rushed to the scene and revived her, but four-year-old Zahara Alexia George never regained consciousness. One day later, doctors gave a devastating diagnosis -- Zahara was brain-dead.
"My heart went right to the floor. I said, 'What do you mean, she passed away?'" said Daniela Oraha, the girl's aunt, about hearing the news. "… This is a nightmare."
The family made the wrenching decision to donate Zahara's organs. Five other children have been helped by her heart, lungs, kidneys and liver.
"It would be selfish of us to make five other families go through what we're going through," said Nahla Oraha, another aunt.
The Trillium Gift of Life Network said there are 52 children in the province who are in need of organ donations. In any given year, only 20 will receive the life-giving gift they need.
Both aunts described Zahara as a lively, funny little angel of a girl.
The Orahas have set up a trust fund to help pay for the girl's funeral. Donations can be made at any CIBC branch. The transit number is 04652/75-74894.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Janice Golding
