Kalina “Kat” Trent was supposed to be beginning one of the best years of her life.

A senior at Coastal Carolina University, Kat was looking forward to her final year of college — another year with her friends, making memories and preparing for everything that was supposed to come next.

Instead, on August 16, Kat and her friend were struck by a drunk driver while crossing the street. Kat sustained severe head trauma and spent more than a week in the intensive care unit on life support as her family remained by her side.

Despite every effort made on her behalf, Kat’s injuries proved unsurvivable, and her family was forced to face the unimaginable loss of their daughter, sister and friend.

Even in the midst of that heartbreak, Kat gave one final extraordinary gift.

Kat was an organ donor. Through organ donation, she gave others the chance for something her own family had prayed so desperately for — more time with someone they love. Her generosity will now live on through the people and families whose lives have been touched by that gift.

Helping Kat’s Family Through the Days Ahead

Kat’s family has spent these days focused on one thing: being with her.

Her parents traveled from their home in New Jersey to South Carolina. Her brothers and other family members from across the country flew in and remained there for more than a week while Kat was in the ICU. Along with the medical and other expenses arising from her hospitalization, the family has faced travel, lodging, meals, time away from work and the countless unexpected costs that accompany a tragedy no family could ever prepare for.

Those expenses do not end when they leave the hospital.

Because the autopsy process is expected to take approximately a week, members of Kat’s family will need to make additional trips to South Carolina as they navigate that process and make final funeral arrangements.

At a time when they should be able to concentrate on grieving, being together and remembering Kat, we hope to ease at least some of the financial burden surrounding them.

A Community Far Bigger Than One Place

This tragedy has been felt deeply throughout the Coastal Carolina University, Conway and Myrtle Beach communities — but Kat’s circle extended far beyond South Carolina.

Her family and friends in New Jersey, along with people who knew and loved her throughout the country, are grieving alongside those who knew her at Coastal Carolina.

Kat was loved in many places, by many people.

That love has been impossible to miss.

She was a daughter, a sister, a friend, a classmate, a coworker and a young woman with plans and dreams for her future. She was studying Sports Management with hopes of someday working for the NFL. She worked hard, maintained a strong GPA and held several jobs while attending college. She loved animals, loved her friends and family, and was loved enormously in return.

Carrying Kat’s Name Forward

Funds raised through this campaign will first be used to help Kat’s family with the medical, travel, lodging, funeral and other expenses directly resulting from this tragedy.

Should donations exceed what is needed to cover those expenses, the remaining funds will be dedicated to a future charitable fund, foundation or memorial initiative established in Kat’s name. The family’s intention is that those funds be used to help others and continue the compassion and generosity that Kat demonstrated through her final gift as an organ donor.

In that way, the kindness being shown to Kat’s family today can someday be passed on to another family who needs it.

If you are able to donate, please consider doing so. If you are unable to contribute financially, sharing this campaign is equally meaningful.

Please share it with friends, family, classmates, Coastal Carolina alumni, the greater Myrtle Beach and Conway communities, our friends and neighbors in New Jersey, and anyone across the country whose life has been touched by Kat or her family.

Every donation, every share and every message reminds this family that they are not walking through this alone.

For Kat. For her family. And for all the lives her beautiful life will continue to touch.