Patricia Thomas, of Cody, will ride the float in Pasadena, Calif., on Saturday. She'll do so in memory of her daughter, Kathleen, who died at 31 after struggling with an illness.
“When people see the float Saturday, I hope they decide to become an organ donor,” Thomas said. “I hope they sign up and tell their family about it.”
After her death, Kathleen's heart valves and corneas were donated. One of the corneas helped a woman in Nagasaki, Japan, regain her vision. While it's not customary to do so, the recipient wrote Thomas a letter thanking her for Kathleen's gift.
Thomas admits that while she is also prepared to donate and has indicated so on her driver's license, she didn't think much about organ donation until she received that letter. The woman's gratitude sparked her involvement in the Donate Life campaign.
“She wrote this wonderful letter and ever since I got it, I've been working to get involved,” Thomas said. “Sometimes I think Kathleen is pushing me to do it, and I know she'd be happy knowing she was able to help that lady in Japan.”
The Donate Life float will appear in the parade for the eighth year. Representing the Rocky Mountain region, Thomas will be joined by Colorado native Parker Simpson, who received a bone transplant from a deceased donor.
In all, more than 35 organ and tissue transplant recipients, living donors and family members of donors will appear in the parade.
Thomas said her participation is sponsored by Donor Alliance, an organ procurement organization that serves Colorado and much of Wyoming.
“I wanted to remember my daughter in this special way,” Thomas said. “I wanted to ride on the float in her name and spread the word about organ and tissues donation.”
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