Recipient to Walk with Donor's Sister

[KT0930]

Lancaster heart recipient to be reunited with Georgia organ donor’s sister at 2008 Rose Parade

Los Angeles, Calif. — Rachel Ball, a 21-year-old student from Lancaster, thought she had reached the emotional pinnacle during her televised meeting with the family of the donor whose heart had given her life.

Her artwork now sits on the wall of the Tipton-Smith family’s new home built by ABC’s ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’ team.

Parade with her donor’s sister, Missy Tipton, as both hold a floral tether line connecting them to organ donor Ransom Tipton’s floral portrait on the Donate Life Rose Parade float.

“While the other eight walkers are all donor family members, we felt it was appropriate to give Rachel this chance to participate and show the celebration that is possible between donor families and recipients,” said Bryan Stewart, chairman of the float organizing committee and vice president of communications for OneLegacy, the non-profit, federally designated organ and tissue recovery agency serving the greater Los Angeles area. “In a sense, Rachel and Missy are now sisters in spirit, if not in fact. Their reunion at the Rose Parade is a wonderful way to show the continuity of life.”

Rachel was dying when Ransom’s heart became available to her. A once-active teenager, she had collapsed at age 14 as a result of arterial bridging. Interim repairs worked for a few years before stopping abruptly. Rachel was so ill pre-transplant that her recovery was a long one. When she finally left the hospital in July 2005, three months after Ransom’s death and her transplant, she wore the dress she had planned to wear to the senior prom.

“I am honored to be a part of this celebration of life, and I hope others can see how organ donation is the ultimate gift that one person can give to another,” said Rachel. “It’s incredible that I will be connected to my hero’s picture on the Donate Life float, and even more special to walk side-by-side with his sister in the Rose Parade.”
The 2008 Donate Life Rose Parade float features a balloon festival, with four colorful hot air balloons rising 30 feet high above 24 riders whose lives have been saved and renewed by organ, eye, tissue and blood donors. The donors are represented by 40 “floragraphs” – artistic portraits created with floral materials – that will adorn the hot air balloons, while nine walkers will hold tether lines connecting each to a floragraph of their loved one.

The 119th Rose Parade will take place Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2008 at 8 a.m. (PST) featuring majestic floral floats, high-stepping equestrian units and spirited marching bands from throughout the world. Following the Rose Parade, at 2 p.m. (PST), the 94th Rose Bowl Game will feature an exciting match-up between two championship teams, once again showcasing the best of collegiate football.
 

[KT0930]

This "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" family lives in the same county that I do, and my husband got to work at the site as security.

[willieandwinnie]

That is so cool. I hope they make mention of the story during the parade.

[KT0930]

I don't think this article mentioned it, but the sister who is going to be in the parade was in the car with the brother when he was killed. Her medical bills and her mother losing her job at about the same time (single mom) were some of the reasons they got the chance to be on the show.

Extreme Makeover sponsored a concert at the high school where the kids were students and used that as an opportunity to raise awareness about organ donation.