Rose Parade tribute to a Bruin who saved lives

UCLA Today | Kim Irvine
Molly Noble
Molly Noble’s heart belonged to UCLA from the time she was in the fifth grade although she knew her divorced mother probably couldn’t afford the tuition. So Molly, whip-smart, worked twice as hard to ensure she would be awarded scholarships. And it paid off.

In 2001, she graduated as valedictorian of her Rio Linda High School class and entered UCLA as a National Merit Scholar and a UC Regents Scholar. “It was her dream ever since she was little to go to UCLA, and that dream came true,” said her mother Dorothy Noble-Fairbairn.

Although Molly came close to donning a mortarboard and walking with her classmates at Commencement, sadly, she didn’t make it. The story of what she gave back to UCLA and to the recipients of five of her donated organs will be one of the 72 such stories honored New Year’s Day on the 2013 Rose Parade Donate Life float that will carry her picture in flowers.

Riding on the same float will be Vicky Nguyen, 28, a recipient of two liver transplants performed at UCLA by Dr. Ronald Busuttil, chairman of the Department of Surgery and chief of liver and pancreas transplantation. Nguyen is one of 32 organ and tissue recipients picked to participate in the 2013 Rose Parade. In addition, two award-winning UCLA nurses will be riding atop the Nurse.com float. 
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