It's tough to find something good in something so tragic, such as the death of a child.

But Robert "Jake" and Diane Frick of Roaring Spring managed to do so - and in the process helped spread the word about organ donation.

Their 17-year-old daughter, Gabrielle "Gabby," died Friday at a Pittsburgh hospital after suffering unexpected heart failure several days earlier.

As heart-breaking as Gabby's death may be for those who knew and loved her, others may benefit because the Fricks agreed to have their daughter be an organ donor.

"She was able to, through her passing, help some other families that were hurting who are able now to have a second chance at life. That's probably the biggest thing she would have liked," her dad told the Mirror.

While others have donated organs before, the Frick family's willingness to share their story in such a difficult time is important and sends a powerful message.

And it came as many churches already were planning to highlight the importance of organ donation last weekend.

We hope the attention of the churches, as well as the Fricks' story, will inspire others to talk with their families about their wishes on organ donations. Knowing what a person might want can make the decision a little easier at an emotionally paintful time.

The Center for Organ Recovery & Education handles organ donations for western Pennsylvania, including Blair and most surrounding counties, and parts of New York and West Virginia. Nearly 100,000 people in the United States are waiting for an organ transplant, and an average of 17 people will die each day without one. About 2,000 people are waiting for organ transplants in CORE's service area.

We encourage area residents to learn more about organ donation and to sign up to be donors. Additional information can be obtained at www.core.org.

The Fricks have our sympathy for their loss.

And we hope their willingness to donate Gabby's organs eases their pain with the knowledge it means longer lives for others in need of a transplant.