Americans affected by organ and tissue donations joined together to celebrate the cause Jan. 1 at the Tournament of Roses Parade aboard Donate Life “Stars of Life”The float. Every year, the float commemorates the millions of people who have been affected by organ, tissue, and blood donation.
Two individuals were sponsored by AlloSource. AlloSource is one of the largest non-profit providers in the country of skin, bone, and soft tissue allografts that can be used in surgical procedures. May Chen from Fremont, Calif. saw her life transformed as a tissue recipient. Dr. Richard Kagan is a Cincinnati-based burn surgeon who works every day to promote organ and tissue donation.
Chen is a highly skilled martial artist and competes at international level. She is also a popular Tai Chi instructor in California, and president of Health Qigong Association USA. A severe knee injury nearly ended her career, but a tissue transplant saved her.
Chen’s knee was saved when she received a transplant of fresh tissue from a young donor, who had lost her leg in a car accident. As one of 26 riders, she participated in the float.
“Everything I’ve done since the transplant, and all that’s to come, are because of the tissue donor family,”Chen. “The allograft gave me a second chance to fulfill an unrealized destiny.”
Chen’s Chief of Staff, Dr. Kagan is the Director of Adult Burn care at University Hospital. Kagan helps thousands of patients live with life-threatening burns. Many times, Kagan uses allograft (a gift from deceased human donor) to do this.
Kagan was selected as one of 14 “Walk of Fame”The float featured stars that honored individuals who have made a lasting contribution to organ and tissue donation. His dedication and progressive research in the field of tissue donation was a major reason he was chosen.
Donate Life’s 26 float-riders were immersed in a cloud of stars, climbing over 30 feet into the air. This represented all those who make the gift possible.
Every year, thousands of organ and tissues recipients are affected by the gift donation. Register to become a donor by visiting Donate Life America www.donatelife.net.
