Bucks County Mom Feeds Those Waiting For Organ Transplants On Thanksgiving
By Brad Segall
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - This was a special Thanksgiving for patients and families at Philadelphia's Gift of Life Family House. A Bucks County mom helped prepare dinner as a tribute to her son, who was tragically killed last year in Bensalem, Pa., but helped save the lives of others.
It was one year ago that Ryan Viola was struck and killed by a car (see related story). He was a high school senior who planned to enter the Army.
Ryan saved five lives by donating his heart, kidneys, liver, left lung and pancreas. His mother, Alice, joined her best friend Kathie Wilson and her family to help prepare a traditional Thanksgiving meal for other patients waiting for donations.
"It's important to me to see that Ryan has done good and what the program is about and it truly is a gift of life," Alice said. "You truly are giving back, giving somebody else hope."
Since Ryan's death, the Wilson family of Levittown, Pa. has been very active at the Family House, which provides a home away from home for transplant patients and their families who travel to Philadelphia for their transplant-related care.
