FLORISSANT, Mo. — A Missouri woman who suffered a traumatic brain injury and multiple strokes after being struck in the head by a crowd surfer at a concert has died, leaving her family mourning a sudden loss while honoring her decision to become an organ donor.
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Danielle Uskiwich, 28, initially experienced mild headaches after attending an outdoor music festival earlier this month with friends. According to family members, what first appeared to be a minor injury quickly developed into a medical emergency.
“She went to the concert, and she got kicked in the head,” her cousin Kristin Shelton said. “She ended up calling her mom and said that she was having more headaches.”
Family members said Uskiwich sought medical treatment days later as the pain worsened. Doctors later discovered a brain bleed and admitted her to the hospital.
“She ended up having her first stroke,” Shelton said. A second stroke followed, along with emergency surgery after doctors discovered additional, hidden blood clots in her brain.
Despite efforts to reduce swelling and stabilize her condition, Uskiwich never recovered.
Family members said her parents and fiancé ultimately decided to donate her organs so others could have a second chance at life.
“Danielle’s immediate family made the incredibly selfless decision to honor her giving spirit through organ donation,” relatives wrote in an online fundraiser. “It was a heartbreaking but deeply meaningful moment that reflected exactly who Danielle was.”
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Her family said they do not blame the concert or crowd-surfing accident, describing the incident as a “freak accident.” They also believe the injury may have led doctors to discover a more serious underlying medical condition that otherwise may not have been caught in time.
“As a family, we’re kind of taking it as a blessing in disguise,” Shelton said. “If she hadn’t had this injury, she wouldn’t have been at the hospital when she had her stroke. She could have been driving or alone.”
Uskiwich worked in public education and was remembered by colleagues as someone who built strong relationships with students, parents and staff.
“She had the kindest heart, a beautiful smile, and a spirit that could light up any room,” her family wrote.
Family members said they are now finding comfort in knowing Uskiwich’s organ donations may help save other lives.
“I was thinking about the people who were getting that phone call, ‘Your life’s about to change because now you have a donation from somebody,’” Shelton said.
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