Giving was important, to Dorothea Edwards. Throughout her life she gave of herself in many ways, including spending 35 years as a faculty member in the College.

But Mrs. Edwards also contributed of herself after her death on February 4, 2002, at the age of 80.

In addition to being an organ donor, Mrs. Edwards had told her family she also wanted to donate her pacemaker. Although person-to-person donations of pacemakers are prohibited by federal regulations, Mrs. Edwards' wish was fulfilled when it was given to Sunshine, a 9-year-old German shepherd.

Sunshine, which is owned by John and Cindy Wren of Buford, received her first pacemaker three years ago after experiencing fainting spells that were traced to an irregular heartbeat. But, when her fainting spells resumed in December, veterinarians determined that a replacement was needed soon.

Sunshine came in a week after Mrs. Edwards' pacemaker had arrived at the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine.

"She was in the right place at the right time," John Wren told newspaper reporters who wrote about the gift.

In addition to helping Sunshine, Mrs. Edwards' donation likely has helped many other pets by drawing attention to the opportunity for pacemaker donation. Because of the cost of a new pacemaker - between $4,000 and $6,000 - few pet owners can afford them. Although manufacturers donate a few each year, there are still many pets who don't receive the needed device. Sunshine's story, however, was publicized in newspapers throughout Georgia and also was featured on ABC's World News Tonight.

In a letter to the College, Mrs. Edwards' daughter, Mahla Swinford, said she was pleased that her mother's donation proved to be a "ray of Sunshine."