Rose Parade Honors Generosity Given after Motorcycle Crash Saved Boy's Life
Accidents can lead to pain, suffering and a long list of expensive medical bills, but when a motorcycle is involved, the injuries are even worse and can often lead to a fatality. When someone is killed by another's negligence in a motorcycle accident, families are often left with funeral expenses, loss of income, medical expenses and non-economic hurt including emotional pain and suffering.
The Rose Parade will honor the "pay-it-forward" kind of generosity that one family began after they lost their son in a fatal motorcycle accident. Amidst the grief and mourning, the family thought of others and donated their son's organs. Their son's liver saved the life of an 11-year-old California boy, and that young boy never forgot.
The young boy lived the life of an average child until he woke up one day feeling sick and nine days later was told that he would die without a liver transplant. He received the accident victim's liver on November 1, 2008, and immediately after he recovered, he began "Mikey's Meals." Approximately 2 years later, the program fed 3,650 meals to those in need this Christmas along with backpacks, toys and other items. The young boy also uses the program to raise awareness for organ donation.
The California Transplant Donor Network chose the young boy to be the face of their "Donate Life Rose Parade Float" after learning of his desire to repay the gift of life he was given. The young boy will also get to meet the mother and father of the motorcycle accident victim who donated the vital organ that saved his life.
Source: MercuryNews.com "Oakland teen to ride in Rose Parade" Angela Woodall 12/31/10
