Generous, loving and dedicated to helping others – that’s how Kim Holmes’ family describes the 36 year-old mother of two who gave the gift of life through organ and tissue donation upon her death. Kim’s grandmother, Clorasteen Wilson, says of Kim “She was a natural nurturer and a giver amongst family and friends.”

Kim suffered from asthma since birth, and spent quite a bit of time at the hospital during her childhood. Kim’s mother, Patricia, says “Kim always said when she grew up she wanted to help people like the nurses helped her. She was a grateful little kid.”

In 1990 she suffered a severe asthma attack for which she had to be put into a drug-induced coma for a few days to heal. She pulled through the ordeal with a renewed spirit and dedication to her church, surprising doctors, but not her family, with her resilience and strength.

After graduating with honors from the College of St. Catherine, Kim fulfilled her childhood promise to help others and began working as a respiratory therapist in the Twin Cities. She balanced her commitment to her work with her dedication to her children – Jameris and Robert. “She was an excellent mother. She always wanted the best for her children and invested in them and their education,” says Kim’s mom.

It was on a trip with her sister Charena, nephew Jamar and friend Terrance in 2006 that Kim suffered an asthma attack from which she could not recover. They were getting Jamar settled into his college home in Nebraska when Kim realized she was in trouble and asked Charena to call the paramedics. First treated in Nebraska and then airlifted to the Twin Cities, Kim succumbed to her asthma.

Given that she was so passionate about helping others, it’s no surprise that Kim wanted to be an organ and tissue donor. Kim’s aunt Kimberly – her namesake – says “When I heard there would be five families impacted by Kim’s organ donation that was phenomenal. It was a moment of healing and beginning. She’s still out there, sharing that spirit of Christian love.” Kim’s gifts of life provided life-saving organ transplants to five people and more than 100 grafts of tissue to be used in life-changing surgeries for grateful recipients.

Kim’s mom, Patricia, says “Donation was something that Kim wanted. I’m just so happy she was able to help so many.” Kim’s aunt Peggy echoes Patricia’s sentiments, saying “She touched so many people. She was gorgeous, inside and out, and in her death there is still life.”