Extending a life story: Westmoreland coroner’s office joins effort to encourage organ donation

Even though her father isn’t a phone call away anymore, Cassidy Gamble knows his kind nature is still making an impact on others.

James Forish became a tissue donor after his Aug. 1 death, allowing his life to continue on in a different sort of way, helping to heal others. That has brought Gamble, of Hempfield, comfort in the months afterward.

“It kind of gave me a little glimmer of hope that this isn’t the end of his story,” she said.

Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson is working with other families in an effort to bring them similar solace through a partnership with the Center for Organ Recovery and Education in O’Hara. In 2023 and so far in 2024, 80 families in all were referred to the center by Westmoreland deputy coroners, with 24 becoming tissue donors. A single tissue donor can help up to 75 lives.

Although hospitals are required by law to make such referrals upon a person’s death, county coroners and medical examiners are not, said T.J. Roser, CORE’s funeral home/medical examiner liaison. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner works with CORE but not many counterparts in other counties do, he said.

If a person dies outside of a hospital and a coroner or medical examiner responds, that person can only donate tissue, which can include skin, bone, cornea, tendons and heart valves. The possibility of the need for an autopsy precludes the donation of organs in these cases. Certain medical conditions and drug use can exclude someone from donating — only 3% to 4% of deceased people are eligible to be a tissue donor, Roser said.

When a referral is made, CORE is responsible for coordinating with the family to gauge interest.

It’s an extra step Carson’s deputies don’t have to take but one he said can be potentially meaningful for those who come in contact with his office. CORE approached him shortly after he took over coroner duties in 2022.

“I didn’t realize that we would be able to be in a position to help so many people,” Carson said. “A lot of times, we just see so much death and misery and upset families, and now the deputies are seeing there’s some good that can come out of it.”

The Allegheny County Medical Examiner referred nearly 14,000 people to CORE in 2023 and 2024, 141 of whom became tissue donors. That office has been working with CORE for more than 10 years, and referrals are part of an automated, computer-based system. Westmoreland’s referrals are made manually by deputies.

There are about 2.5 million tissue transplants annually, according to Donate Life America. CORE plans to honor Carson in 2025.

“It’s a voluntary thing that he’s doing,” Roser said. “He doesn’t have to do it. … He’s doing this out of the goodness of his heart.”

Generosity carries on

Forish, 65, who went by “Jimbo,” lived in Unity but was an avid traveler whose curiosity spanned many passions. He loved experimenting with new technology and trying out different hobbies such as scuba diving, fly fishing, riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle and playing guitar. Gamble, who works as an organ procurement coordinator at CORE, inherited his 12 guitars.

“He had his hands in a little bit of everything all the time,” she said.

Forish was employed as a business development manager at Master-Lee Energy Services, according to his obituary. That job led him around the world, and he wanted to get back to a place he visited with Gamble years ago: Yellowstone National Park.

She remembered her father as a friendly, generous person whose tissue donation came after his unexpected death at home from cardiac arrest. Gamble is happy to know others in her neighborhood may be given the chance, too.

With the expanded reach in Westmoreland, CORE now has the potential to connect with a larger group of people grieving the loss of a loved one, Roser said.

“It’s rewarding to me,” he said. “We believe that every family should be offered that opportunity.”