2012 Rose Parade Donate Life float: 28 special people (Part 3)

Examiner | Robin Wulffson MD

Photo: Luis Ramirez

Every year the Rose Parade floats get more spectacular. Since 2004, the Donate Life Float has served as a memorial to organ and tissue donors and a platform for donor families, living donors and transplant recipients to inspire the world to save and heal those in need through the gift of life. This year’s float contained 28 very special people.

Stephanie McMackin: One day in 1970, Stephanie McMackin turned yellow and began itching. That was the first day of her 20-year battle with liver disease. In January, 1990, Stephanie's health had deteriorated to the point that she was put on the transplant waiting list. Twelve weeks later, Stephanie received a liver transplant, and for the first time, her teenage children saw her healthy. Stephanie has been doing her best to "pay it forward" by serving as a Donate Life Ambassador volunteer with OneLegacy for many years. "Every Mother's Day, I think of my donor's mother missing her child," said Stephanie. "I am taking very good care of their daughter and I thank them from the bottom of my heart for blessing me with their most unselfish gift of life."

Nancy Michaels:

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