39°
Just days after the 17-year-old high school senior and aspiring nurse from Babylon was taken off life support following a car crash that killed two others, doctors removed her organs to help three strangers in need.
An honor walk was held at Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip, before Trezza’s kidneys and liver were recovered, LiveOnNY confirmed to Daily Voice.
“Two women in their 30’s received her kidneys and a man in his 60’s received her liver, all saved by Bella’s act of grace and her family’s decision to say yes to donation,” said Leonard Achan, the organization’s president and CEO.
The recipients are located in New York City, Maryland, and Massachusetts.
“LiveOnNY is humbled to be the stewards of Bella’s precious gifts of life. We extend our deepest condolences to Bella’s family, friends, loved ones and the community,” Achan said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them as well as the other passengers involved.”
The wreck happened just after 1 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, in West Babylon, at the intersection of Great East Neck Road and Railroad Avenue.
Suffolk County Police said 33-year-old Michael Desmond was driving a Kia sedan eastbound on Railroad Avenue when he ran a red light slammed into a Kia SUV driven by Trezza.
Desmond, of Lindenhurst, was pronounced dead at the scene, along with 18-year-old Riley Goot, of Babylon.
Goot was a friend of Trezza’s brother, Austin, a volunteer firefighter at the West Babylon Fire department. Austin suffered serious injuries in the crash and underwent multiple surgeries. He was last listed in stable condition.
Two additional male passengers in the SUV, an 18- and 16-year-old, were taken to South Shore University Hospital with serious injuries. Details about their conditions were not immediately available.
At the time of the wreck, Trezza was driving the teens home after picking them up at a party, according to a GoFundMe.
In a tribute on Facebook, St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School in West Islip remembered Trezza as “a beloved senior.”
“The SJB Community remembers Bella as a bright ray of sunshine, and continues to pray for her brother, Austin, Bella's family, and all those affected by the accident through this difficult time.”
Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 4, at Our Lady of Grace Roman Catholic Church in West Babylon.
A GoFundMe campaign to help Trezza’s family with memorial and growing medical expenses had raised over $200,000 as of Monday, Sept. 30. Those who wish to donate can do so here.
Funeral services for Goot, who had just graduated from West Babylon High School last spring, were held Thursday, Sept. 26. Relatives remembered him as “an amazing young man” and “ray of light” on a GoFundMe campaign to help his family with memorial expenses.
The West Babylon intersection where the place occurred is now the subject of a traffic study being conducted by Suffolk County, a spokesperson for County Executive Ed Romaine told Daily Voice.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Middletown and receive free news updates.
