Tucson Shootings: Youngest Victim's Corneas Donated to Two Recipients

Jan. 17, 2011— -- Christina-Taylor Green, the youngest victim of last week's shootings in Tucson, Ariz., was painted as having given life to others who received her donated organs. But in the very private world of organ donations, doctors are not allowed to tell the world where her organs went.

Today in Tucson, her father, John, said his daughter's corneas have saved the vision of two children.

He told The Associated Press that according to the Donor Network of Arizona, two children in can see now because they received Christina's corneas. But he said he doesn't know whether his daughter's other organs have gone to any other children, and he's under the impression that her wounds rendered her internal organs unusable.

Christina-Taylor was nine when she died.

A spokesman for the New England Organ Bank told the Boston Globe Sunday it could not comment on donations. The Donor Network of Arizona also declined to comment on any donation today, citing confidentiality.

John Green told the Globe that the news that his daughter's organs were able to help another child "really lifted" his spirits, and he and her mother, Roxanna Green are proud of Christina, "who has done another amazing thing."

CNN reported that when asked if he would like to meet the young girl who received his daughter's organs, John Green said yes, he would.

"I'd give her a big hug. It's a blessing," Green said.

Christina-Taylor Green, who was born on Sept. 11, 2001, was one of six people killed when Jared Loughner, 22, allegedly opened fire at a "Congress on Your Corner" event at a Tucson-area Safeway. She was waiting to meet Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz. when she was shot.

Arizona dignitaries and the family and friends of Christina-Taylor Green gathered on Thursday to celebrate her life.

At the service on Thursday, Green's family members met the casket and solemnly escorted it into St. Elizabeth-Ann Seton Catholic Church for the ceremony.

Among the roughly 1,800 mourners who were in attendance to pay their respects to the young girl was the husband of the severely wounded Giffords, Astronaut Mark Kelley, as were Arizona's two Senators, John McCain and Jon Kyl, both Republicans.