Rachel Givens
Organ, eye and tissue donor
Rachel, 23, was vibrant, full of life, and always laughing. She was a talented and competitive athlete, earning a college scholarship for soccer. She adored her family and was community-centered.
As a proud Native American of Navajo Nation, Rachel worked in education and coached basketball at a local tribal school. She was known to be “goofy” and could make anyone smile, but she was also deeply committed to giving back. Rachel never wanted anyone to suffer.
True to Rachel’s giving nature and big-picture thinking, she was a registered organ donor. A tragic accident took her life, but Rachel’s decision to be a donor saved five people, restored vision for two others, and healed many more. This life-giving legacy honors who she was — a hero.
“I’m very proud of her decision to donate,” said her mother, Laura Givens. “She always thought about the bigger picture and about other people. She didn’t want people to suffer, and she accomplished that.”
Photo: Rachel’s mom, Laura Givens, and Rachel’s lung recipient, Linda Merritt.
Photo: Rachel and her brothers
In the spring of 2022, LifeCenter Northwest coordinated the filming of “Rachel’s Gift,” a story that follows the impact of Rachel’s decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor. This video continues to inspire others to leave a life-saving legacy and register as an organ donor. Rachel’s family, and her lung recipient, Linda Merritt, participated in the filming of this powerful outreach video.
