This memorial website was created in memory of Ashton Marie Goodenberger(Pooh Bear)who was born on February 16, 1989, and passed away the morning of June 05, 2005 at the age of 16 due to a tragic auto accident. She had a beautiful spirit, a brilliant smile and was a true friend to everyone. She will live on through her (5) organ recipients and will continue to change lives just by who she was and through the people who knew her. She was truly loved by everyone and is deeply missed everyday....... We will remember , love, and miss her forever. "Одним цветком земля беднее стала, Одной звездой - богаче небеса..." " One flower lost - poorer ground, One star gained - richer heavens "
To Remember Me ~~~
The day will come when my body will lie upon a white sheet neatly tucked under four corners of a mattress located in a hospital busily occupied with the living and the dying. At a certain moment, a doctor will determine that my brain has ceased to function and that, for all intents and purposes, my life has stopped.
When that happens, do not attempt to instill artificial life into my body by the use of a machine. And don't call this my deathbed. Let it be called the Bed of Life, and let my body be taken from it to help others lead fuller lives.
Give my sight to the man who has never seen a sunrise, a baby's face, or love in the eyes of a woman. Give my heart to a person whose own heart has caused nothing but endless days of pain.
Give my blood to the teenager who was pulled from the wreckage of his car, so that he might live to see his grandchildren play. Give my kidneys to one who depends on a machine to exist. Take my bones, every muscle, every fiber and nerve of my body and find a way to make a crippled child walk.
Explore every corner of my brain. Take my cells, if necessary, and let them grow so that, someday, a speechless boy will shout at the crack of a bat and a deaf girl will hear the sound of rain against her window.
Burn what is left of me and scatter the ashes to the winds to help the flowers grow. If you must bury something, let it be my faults, my weaknesses, and all prejudices against my fellow man.
If, by chance, you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or word to someone who needs you.
If you do all I have asked, I will live forever. ~~Robert N. Test If there ever comes a day when we can't be together,
Keep me in your heart, I'll stay there forever...
~~Winnie the Pooh
"I'll lend for you a little time A child of mine," God said; "For you to love the while she lives, And mourn for when she's dead. It may be hours, sixteen years, Or twenty-two or three; But will you, 'til I call her back, Take care of her for me? She'll bring her charms to gladden you, And should the stay be brief, You'll have her lovely memories As solace for your grief. I cannot promise she will stay Since all from earth return, But there are lessons taught below I want this child to learn. I've looked this wide world over In search of teachers true, And from the throng that crowd life's lanes, I have selected you. Now, will you give her all your love Not think the labor vain, Nor hate me when I come to take This 'lent' child back again? I fancied that I heard them say: 'Dear Lord, Thy will be done: For all the joys Thy child shall bring The risk of grief we'll run. We'll shelter her with tenderness; We'll love her all we may, And for the happiness we've known, Forever grateful stay. But should the angels call for her Much sooner than we've planned, We'll brave the bitter grief that comes, And try to understand.'" To order your very own "Ashton Angel" pin, go to the link below. http://www.designsbyrosemary.com/ashton.htm
PERHAPS THEY ARE NOT STARS IN THE SKY, BUT RATHER OPENINGS WHERE OUR LOVED ONES SHINE DOWN TO LET US KNOW THEY ARE HAPPY In one of the stars I shall be living, In one of them I shall be laughing, And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing when you look at the sky at night. -From The Little Prince By: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry "Hello From Heaven"
It's me again from Heaven With a message from above. Feel my spirit all around you As I sprinkle you with love.
I have watched you as your tears flow. I have heard your silent screams. I know you sleep with visions... Of me visiting your dreams.
I have come and sat beside you. Placed my hands upon your face. Wiped away the many teardrops I so wish I could erase.
I have watched you every day now. Seen such pain within your eyes. I just wish that there were some way I could help you realize...
I am happy up in Heaven In this peaceful loving place, Where I will be here waiting To welcome you with my embrace.
You will join me here in Heaven When your time comes, you will see. Leave your Earthly cares behind you Travel on to where you're free.
I have heard you ask to go now, But there is more for you to do. I promise I'll be waiting In your time to come get you.
Until that day does happen, Feel the love I send your way... Every single moment... Of every single day.
Yearbook Dedication Pages From Brownwood High
"WE GIVE THANKS" By: Earla Pallette - June 5, 2006
We know you are still grieving "cause your daughter's gone away". But listen for a moment to what we have to say. We share in all your sorrow more than you will ever know For the gifts from your daughter, our Thanks just overflow.
"All my life I've been tied down to a bulky old machine, But now I'm free to move around and I'm only seventeen. My eyesight was failing, how dark my world would be, But then new eyes came along and thank God I now can see.
And I've been on a list for years "cause I needed a new heart, And when I heard they'd found one, it gave me quite a start, And me, well I couldn't breathe, and was always gasping for air, But with new lungs in my chest, I'm now walking everywhere."
Words can never express our thanks, nor take the pain away, But please remember from now on, you're thought of every day. Your daughter is our hero, new life to us she gave, For she was thinking of others when herself she couldn't save.
So we feel very fortunate to receive these gifts so kind From a stranger we never knew with giving on her mind. We know we can never take away the pain you now must feel, But please accept our gratitude, may this help your heart to heal.
May God give you strength and courage and be your daily guide, He loves you and your daughters and is always at your side. May He wrap his loving arms around you, our thanks to you we pay, For this valley you are walking through will be bright again some day.
Just found Ashton's page / Terah Sealy (old friend )
I just wanted to say that I have and will always remember Ashton. She was a great childhood friend. Her site is beautiful and I hope her family is doing well!
Tribute / Andrew Castanuela (New Friend of Family )
Mary, Although we don't know each other on a personal level I ran across your tribute on facebook and was saddened to learn of the this loss. It is of great comfort to know that her spirit continues to live in this world through her organ don...
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Always thinking of you guys and Ashton! / Lauren Patton (Friend)
Hey Mamma Maryanne and Jordan! I haven't talked to ya'll in forever. I saw Jordan's myspace and wanted to check out Ashton's website. It's beautifull! I don't know if ya'll had heard but my dad passed away Sept. 25th 2008 (exactly 2 months before my ...
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Love and prayers / Carole Mom To Angel Heather Bates (connected by angels )
The life of a 16-year-old Brownwood High School student ended June 5, 2005, after being injured the day before in a two-vehicle collision on the Brady Highway. But her memory — as well as her lungs — live on inside Lloyd Wilkins of Redwood City, Calif.
On Saturday, Wilkins and his wife, Ruth, were joined by members of Ashton Marie Goodenberger’s family and several dozen others to celebrate the life-sustaining organ transplants the teenager made possible.
With the assistance of Keep Brownwood Beautiful and the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance, a tree was planted and a memorial marker was dedicated in a green area at the intersection of Austin Avenue and Idlewild in Brownwood. The tree is a gift of appreciation from the Wilkinses.
“We are truly grateful that you are here to honor, to remember and to show your love for Ashton,” her mother, Mary Ann Goodenberger of Brownwood, said. “I hope we will use this day as a time for reflection, enlightenment and remembrance. This tree is the ideal tribute to the circle of life.”
Wilkins was one of five people who benefited from the Goodenberger family’s decision to allow Ashton’s organs to be donated.
Wilkins’ procedure was performed by The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio / University Hospital lung transplant program. Considered a high-risk case because of his condition — a terminal disease called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis — Wilkins underwent the double-lung transplant June 6, 2005, at University Hospital, one of the Health Science Center's primary teaching hospitals.
“I think about Ashton every day, and what she did for me,” Wilkins said. “I think it’s a ripple-effect. Her lungs made it possible for me to live. I talk to others about needs that aren’t being fulfilled because people aren’t being asked. The more ripples we have in the water, the greater effect we can have... There’s a lot of love here today.”
Ruth Wilkins said her husband is celebrating his 65th birthday today.
“You’ve given my husband, my best friend, your love, your support and your help,” she said. “We’ll keep Ashton’s memory forever. I feel like I give Ashton a big hug every morning.”
Michelle Segovia, senior community relations coordinator for the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance in Austin, said 98,000 people in the United States are in need of organ transplants in order “to have a second chance at life. Talk to your families about it. We know that the decision is made easier when the time comes because families have talked about it.”
Last year, only 7,500 deceased donors were available in the United States, according to statistics provided by the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance.
In Texas, residents can sign up to be organ donors at the Web site, www.donatelifetexas.org. Many other states have similar sites, Segovia said.
Several speakers said the need for organ donors is so great, that it would be better if everyone was born an organ donor unless they sign something to decide otherwise.
The green area where the magnolia tree is planted was created after the intersection was redesigned as part of the Austin Avenue highway surface improvements recently completed.
“This area has been replanted by Keep Brownwood Beautiful volunteers as a gift of life to remind us all of the importance of organ donation,” Cary Perrin, KBB program coordinator, said in opening remarks.
Among those traveling from out-of-state to participate in Saturday’s ceremonies were Ashton’s father and stepmother, Perry and Terri Goodenberger of Winterset, Iowa.
Ashton's Gift...
Ashton was an organ donor. Through donating, she saved five peoples lives.
Ashton's heart went to a 54 year-old woman that is employed as an office manager. Her favorite pastime is reading. Her new heart functioned well and a full recovery is expected.
Her left kidney went to a 58 year-old woman that is married and has three children. She works for her local church and enjoys spending time with her family and friends as well as being active in her church. The transplant went well and a full recovery is anticipated.
Her right kidney was transplanted into a 17 year old young lady. She lives with her parents and has one younger brother. She is a high school student and does very well in school. She wants to go to college and become a radiologist. Her new kidney has freed her from the rigors of dialysis. She is home now and doing very well.
Ashton's lungs were transplanted into a 62 year-old gentlman from California. He is retired from the military, is married with four children. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends. His transplant team anticipate a complete and rapid recovery.
The liver was successfully transplanted into a 39 year-old female from Texas. Who enjoys spending her time with family and friends, and is anxious to return to work as a security guard. The transplant went well and a full recovery is anticipated.
She touched all of these peoples lives, and their families' lives through her generosity. Ashton is a true hero!
To order your very own "Ashton Angel" pin, go to the link below.
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