Rachel Cornett remembers her sister, Amanda, as a bright light in the world—compassionate, adventurous, and always kind. Even as a child, Amanda’s heart was drawn to caring for others, whether it was rescuing junebugs from the pool skimmer or getting “lost in happiness” while mucking a horse stall.
“She had grown up from an itty-bitty girl loving horses. She would take our family dog around the house and jump them on a leash, like it was a horse lead,” recalled Rachel, smiling at the memory.
Amanda’s passion for horses carried into adulthood. She married a rancher in Montana in 2004, embracing a life that let her be close to the land and the animals she adored. But in 2013, at just 32 years old, Amanda’s world changed when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. After undergoing a mastectomy, reconstruction surgery, and chemotherapy, she was down to her final treatment when tragedy struck—Amanda suffered a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot that took her life.
In the midst of their grief, Rachel and her family found solace in the fact that Amanda was able to donate her corneas. After months of chemotherapy, it was the only tissue that remained viable for donation. Even without knowing who received them, Rachel found peace in knowing that her little sister helped someone else in the end.
“Knowing that a little bit of her is still out there, helping people, for however long they live—that has brought a little bit of comfort,” said Rachel. “Ironically, she loved seeing the world and exploring places, living life, and soaking it all in. That she could share that with someone else meant a lot to all of us who loved her.”
Rachel has been a registered donor for years, but after losing Amanda, she now openly discusses donation with her family, encouraging them to embrace the same giving spirit Amanda had. Losing her sister also sparked conversations Rachel never expected to have, including deep discussions with her mother-in-law about end-of-life decisions and donation for medical research.
“When I die, and I can give something that can help somebody else—that’s a yes,” said Rachel. “At the end of the day, I’m dead. I’m not worried about it, and my family shouldn’t be, either. I want to help however possible.”
For Rachel, Amanda’s donation is a reflection of who she was—a person who gave selflessly, whether it was through her work in equine therapy, her dream of becoming a science teacher, or the small, everyday acts of kindness. Even in death, Amanda lived by her two mantras: “Go big or go home,” and “Be the change.”
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