Yesterday, Melissa wrote about “Stars of Life”, the Donate Life Float entry in the Rose Parade coming up on January 1st, 2009. Melissa pointed out that I would cover a particular rider in a little more depth on Thursday….
It’s Thursday, and that particular rider is me… Here is my 2009 Float Rider Page.
I feel so honored and flattered to be a part of this! When Dave at Gift of Hope called me to ask if I was interested, all that went through my mind was how many more people are going to learn about Kari…
Telling people about Kari is the second most special and important thing in the world to me. The first would be Laura. Kari let me stay here with Laura.
I want people to know about her. I want people to feel the beautiful smile that I feel throughout the day, every day. I want people to know about her friends, and to know that they are my friends now – and that they’ll never, ever forget Kari. I won’t let them forget.
And I want people to understand what organ donation does for others… I want them to know about the Kari’s and the Chase’s and the Chloe’s and the Jay’s and the Samantha’s of the world. And I want them to know how we recipients feel about our donors, and their families and their friends… I want them to want to be someone’s hero when they leave this beautiful planet…
I know a beautiful chick from New Jersey who I adore. At 11pm on the night before the Hustle, she was standing at O’Hare airport with a big smile on her face, waiting for me to pick her up. I got to hug her. She flew in to climb with me. A few months later, she wrote the most beautiful thing I’ve ever read about Kari. It’s titled Legacy. But it’s about so many donors and recipients. If you haven’t read it – read it for me.
