In the wake of a tragedy, the life-saving gift of organ donations is nothing short of inspiring. So it was with the case of Mililani High School teacher Wendy Danielle Davis, whose precious gift saved the lives of three Hawai'i residents.

Davis died July 14 after being struck by a car while jogging near her Mililani home. Her friends and family describe the 40-year-old teacher as outgoing and dedicated, with a passion for teaching and a love of the outdoors. Her loved ones will gather today at Christ Lutheran Church to remember Davis and some of the things that defined her life.

Those remembrances should include the three lives she saved in donating her organs to those awaiting transplants. Unfortunately the list of people in Hawai'i awaiting organ donors is increasingly long. Nationally, there are roughly 97,000 people awaiting organ donations. Each day, an average of 17 people die due to a lack of organ donors.

Here at home, about 380 people in Hawai'i are on the list to receive organ transplants. Unfortunately for far too many, the call for organ donors goes unanswered: 23 died last year due to a lack of donors.

"Being an organ donor, you save lives — plain and simple. We always need them. We had 380 people on the list but only 30 donors for the 2008-2009 fiscal year," said Stephen Kula, executive director of the Organ Donor Center of Hawaii.

The most convenient way to become an organ donor is to indicate it on your driver's license. Or go online and visit the donor registry at www.donatelifehawaii.com.

In the tragic death of a Mililani teacher, there is the priceless lesson of how organ donations can save lives — it's a lesson we all should take to heart.