Kansas City,
30
December
2015
|
08:41 AM
America/Chicago

Hally's life & legacy as organ donor to be celebrated at Rose Parade

On New Year’s Day, a young girl's gift and legacy will be celebrated during the Tournament of Roses Parade. Midwest Transplant Network's Donate Life float will honor 9-year-old Hally Yust, who was a donor at Children’s Mercy the summer of 2014. Hally’s family will travel to Pasadena to participate in finishing the float decorating and sit in the grandstands for the parade.

Hally had a passion for basketball, water sports, and most important: her faith. She declared that she was going to play basketball in college, become a coach someday, and even try out for the Olympics – and no one doubted that she would have. In addition to being a competitive water skier, she also enjoyed free diving and snorkeling with her parents, brother and sisters. As Hally’s family sat in the hospital with her after an amoeba had entered her body, they knew they wanted her to give life to others through organ donation if she couldn’t be saved.

“We have been blessed to be able to correspond with the recipient of Hally’s kidneys and are comforted in knowing she continues to give to others,” said Jenny, Hally’s mother.

 

“We have been blessed to be able to correspond with the recipient of Hally’s kidneys and are comforted in knowing she continues to give to others” 
Hally’s mother, Jenny

The 2016 Donate Life Rose Parade Float, Treasure Life’s Journey, features a colorful caravan with sixty donor medal-inspired floragraphs honoring the invaluable treasure of a deceased donor’s lifesaving gift. Twenty-four transplant recipients ride the float and continue to share in life’s adventures allowed by the gift of organ or tissue donation. Twelve living donors walk alongside the float carrying provision of flower accented fruit, symbolizing life giving and enhancing gifts that have been given. Dedicated roses, placed lovingly by people touched by donation, create floral jewels that ornament the base of the float.

Learn more and join the organ and tissue donor registry today at YesTheyWantMe.com.