SENATE RESOLUTION 70

(By Senator Weld)

[Introduced March 7, 2024]

Memorializing the life of Heather Nicole Miller.

Whereas, Heather Nicole Miller was born in Wheeling, West Virginia on August 7, 1986, to Gary P. and Jody A. Miller; and

Whereas, Growing up in Triadelphia, Heather was a graduate of Wheeling Park High School, Class of 2004, where she was a member of the Key Club and the Ice Cube Club, and a long-time softball player for the Wheeling Recreation Softball Team; and

Whereas Heather was a volunteer for Catholic Charities of Wheeling; a volunteer nurse at Wheeling Hospital and Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, WV, and the Cameron Clinic, in Cameron, WV; and,

Whereas, In March of 2008, while home on spring break from West Virginia University, where she was a senior in the nursing program, and was set to graduate with high honors, and was working to further her career as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Heather was a passenger in an alcohol-related car crash; and,

Whereas, One week after the crash, and after all life-saving efforts were exhausted, Heather was declared brain dead on March 31, 2008; and,

Whereas, Heather was a registered organ donor, and five organs were recovered and four transplanted, allowing her to gift her heart, both kidneys, and liver. Through her tissue donation, she enhanced the lives of over 50 people; and

Whereas, The Heather Miller Memorial Charity was established by her family to preserve Heather’s legacy and advance her vision through their mission, which provides financial assistance to local students pursuing a career in an accredited nursing program; organ donation advocacy to raise awareness about the critical importance of organ donation; combating drunk and drugged driving alongside MADD in their ongoing efforts; and envisioning a future where there are No More Victims of accidents caused by impaired driving; and

Whereas, The Senate hereby designates March 15, 2024, as Gifted Day in Wheeling and Ohio County in honor of the world premiere of Gifted, a docuseries that will feature Heather Nicole Miller and her family to be debuted at the Performing Arts Center of Wheeling Island, honoring Heather’s gift of life to so many, and bringing much needed attention to the value and importance of organ donation; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby memorializes the life of Heather Nicole Miller; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate hereby extends its sympathies to the family of Heather Nicole Miller; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the family of Heather Nicole Miller.