Filipino heart transplant recipient to ride on Rose Parade float

California Transplant Donor Network | Anthony Borders

A Filipino man who nearly died, only to have his life saved by a heart transplant, is the Northern California representative on a float in the 2014 Tournament of Roses Parade, New Year’s Day in Pasadena.

Bay Area born Arthur “AJ” Reyes, 28, joins organ and tissue transplant recipients from across the country aboard the Donate Life “Light up the World” float recognizing the gift of life provided by organ and tissue donors.

Lanterns dominate the float on which Reyes and the 29 other organ and tissue transplant recipients will ride. “The float theme of Light Up the World matches AJ’s bright smile,” said Cathy Olmo, Director of Communications for the California Transplant Donor Network.

Reyes is being sponsored CTDN, the link in Northern and Central California and Northern Nevada between donors and those who wait for organ and tissue transplants. Reyes is a volunteer with the non- profit organization.

Honoring the parade theme of “Dreams Really Do Come True,” the float will also display the floral likenesses of 72 people from across the country who helped save or improve the lives of others as organ and tissue donors.

Reyes has not met the family of his donor. In 2010, he was like thousands of area Filipinos whose names are on waiting lists for organs like hearts and kidneys. For weeks, his life was sustained by a mechanical heart. His own heart was damaged by a virus.
______________________________________________________ 
"You have the power to SAVE lives." 
To register as a donor TODAY
In California: 
www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org | www.doneVIDAcalifornia.org 
Outside California: 
www.organdonor.gov | www.donatelife.net

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