Tournament of Roses Parade Brings Organ Donor's Family Full Circle

Source: Ozarks First

(Springfield, MO) -- An Ozarks family is back from the 2011 Tournament of Roses Parade, and they say it was a very healing experience.

Last month, the family of Blake White decorated a floragraph in his honor.

Blake died after an accident at the age of 20, and his parents donated his organs, saving five other lives.

His floragraph was featured on the "Donate Live" float in this year's parade, and his family got to go see that in person.

They say getting the word out about the importance of organ donation was as important as honoring their son.

"It was so neat to see Blake's picture -- a big picture of him going by and look back at us," says Nancy Trapp, Blake's mother. "We're looking at him, he's looking back at us, knowing that he had saved some of the other lives, also."

Nancy Trapp was actually watching the Tournament of Roses Parade three years ago when she got the call about her son's accident.

She says the experience has now come full circle, and while she cried at the parade, they were joyous tears.