HARNETT COUNTY, N.C. — One Harnett County mother is looking forward to a bright future, thanks to her daughter.

Deputies say Robin Morris shot and killed his 21-year-old girlfriend, Deadra McAllister, Saturday at their Lillington home.

About five hours after her death, Deadra's parents remembered she was an organ donor. They immediately notified the tissue bank.

"He asked me if I had special requests and I said, 'Like what?' He said, 'do any family members need anything?'" said David McAllister, Deadra's father.

Indeed, one of them did. Annette McAllister, Deadra's mother, is blind in her right eye. She lost vision in that eye 14 years ago after an accident changing a tire. After several unsuccessful surgeries, she gave up hope and decided against a cornea transplant, but then the tissue bank told her she could have one of Deadra's corneas.

"I just lost it. He said, 'What do you think about it?' and I said, 'Yes,'" Annette McAllister said. "A part of her will still be here with us. That helps us make it through."

Deadra died Saturday. By Thursday, her mother was already seeing light.

"She would say Mama, go for it girl. She'd be so happy she could give it," Annette McAllister said.

Even though hours had passed after Deadra's death, it was not too late to recover her cornea. Her tissue and skin were also available for donation.