Cayden Turner was full of life and had a smile that could light up a room.”She was my angel here,” her mother, S’keisha Rembert-Wilkerson, said. “Now, she’s more of an angelic angel.”Last Wednesday, the unthinkable happened — Turner died. She and another student were crossing Jefferson Ave. in a marked crosswalk when they were hit by a car. According to police, a suspected stolen 2014 Honda CR-V ran through a stoplight and struck the girls. The car sped off, crashed into a tree, and the driver fled.Both victims were taken to the hospital with serious injuries. One girl was treated and released, but Turner died at the hospital.”At least I can have comfort when I have my bad times that she’s living through someone else,” Rembert-Wilkerson, said.In Turner’s young life, she was called to give. She was an Eagle Ambassador of Chaminade Julienne High School in Dayton. Turner completed many volunteer hours, helped her family, and ensured everyone fit in. Even in her death, Turned continued her work giving the gift of life.”She was able to give the gift of sight and her corneas,” Rembert-Wilkerson, said. “She gave the gift of skin for burn victims, and she also gave bone marrow to help people with hip replacement and when others need infusions.”As a tissue donor, Turner will give 70 to 100 people another chance at life.LifeCenter Organ Donation Network hopes her tragedy becomes an inspiration.”Those gifts can give somebody back a quality of life that they would never have had,” Tissue Services Director Robert Winter said. “I think the beauty of somebody that’s a younger donating, while that’s certainly excruciating for any family to go through, is that those patients also have the potential to help younger patients have a quality of life. Whether through spinal surgery, sports injury, or cancer.”Turner’s journey on earth ended too soon but not without meaning.”She’s just very special,” stepfather Jermaine Wilkerson said. “She brought light to everybody.””She was able to give a lot of other people life and more time on this earth,” Rembert-Wilkerson, said.
CINCINNATI —
Cayden Turner was full of life and had a smile that could light up a room.
“She was my angel here,” her mother, S’keisha Rembert-Wilkerson, said. “Now, she’s more of an angelic angel.”
Last Wednesday, the unthinkable happened — Turner died. She and another student were crossing Jefferson Ave. in a marked crosswalk when they were hit by a car.
According to police, a suspected stolen 2014 Honda CR-V ran through a stoplight and struck the girls. The car sped off, crashed into a tree, and the driver fled.
Both victims were taken to the hospital with serious injuries. One girl was treated and released, but Turner died at the hospital.
“At least I can have comfort when I have my bad times that she’s living through someone else,” Rembert-Wilkerson, said.
In Turner’s young life, she was called to give. She was an Eagle Ambassador of Chaminade Julienne High School in Dayton. Turner completed many volunteer hours, helped her family, and ensured everyone fit in. Even in her death, Turned continued her work giving the gift of life.
“She was able to give the gift of sight and her corneas,” Rembert-Wilkerson, said. “She gave the gift of skin for burn victims, and she also gave bone marrow to help people with hip replacement and when others need infusions.”
As a tissue donor, Turner will give 70 to 100 people another chance at life.
LifeCenter Organ Donation Network hopes her tragedy becomes an inspiration.
“Those gifts can give somebody back a quality of life that they would never have had,” Tissue Services Director Robert Winter said. “I think the beauty of somebody that’s a younger donating, while that’s certainly excruciating for any family to go through, is that those patients also have the potential to help younger patients have a quality of life. Whether through spinal surgery, sports injury, or cancer.”
Turner’s journey on earth ended too soon but not without meaning.
“She’s just very special,” stepfather Jermaine Wilkerson said. “She brought light to everybody.”
“She was able to give a lot of other people life and more time on this earth,” Rembert-Wilkerson, said.
