Donate Life Arizona: Valley woman carries on daughter's legacy

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - Ozzy is a special Pomeranian. He's meticulously trained and abundantly loved. He was saved from a shelter by Kellye Pummil's daughter, Roo.

"They were constantly together. She was constantly doing fly-ball or agility diving. Petsmart. Always at Petsmart doing ads," Pummil said. Pummill now cares for Ozzy full-time.

On October 18, 2014, her daughter took her own life.

"It was absolutely devastating. She was 21 and depressed and didn't really, didn't really tell anyone to meet her. You would have never known and she took her own life," Pummil said.

When Roo was 16, she registered to become an organ donor. In death, she saved a half-dozen lives.

"Just from hearing Kellye's story, we are able to leave this incredible legacy behind. We're not going to need any of those things when we pass away. And it's a great way to give families more time with their loved ones," said Jacqueline Keidel, of Donate Life Arizona.

Keidel says 2,400 people right now in Arizona are awaiting organ transplants. There are said to be 123,000 nationwide, like the man who received Roo's lungs.

Pummill and Ozzy recently had a chance to meet him. Pummill says her daughter was always selfless and giving. She wanted to continue Roo's legacy. So Pummil went through Pet Partners, and got certified to be a therapy team to help children.

Online:

Donate Life Arizona - www.donatelifeaz.org
Pet Partners - petpartners.org