DeKalb Medical to Participate in New Year's Rose Parade

From DeKalb Medical Center:

DeKalb Medical will participate in an extraordinary opportunity to play a meaningful part in one of the world’s greatest traditions – the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day.

In appreciation of DeKalb Medical’s support of organ, eye and tissue donation, Donate Life offered DeKalb Medical's president and CEO John Shelton, FACHE, the opportunity to handwrite a note to be placed in a rose vial on its 2014 Donate Life Rose Parade Float “Dedication Garden.”

“Gone but not forgotten, DeKalb Medical is ever grateful for your selfless donation. You are an inspiration and we are grateful for your sacrifice,” Shelton wrote.

The health care organization will join dozens of other organizations nationwide as they collaborate as participants of the 2014 Donate Life Rose Parade Float in the annual New Year’s Day parade watched by more than 40 million U.S. television viewers and 800,000 spectators. One of the trademarks of the float, entering its 11th year, is the “Dedication Garden” filled with thousands of roses, each placed in a vial carrying unique, personal messages.

“Thank you for saving lives!” added Nurse Susan Harris, vice president and administrator at DeKalb Medical at Hillandale.

The notes are a way to offer personal messages honoring the patients and families who have saved and healed lives through the gift of organ, eye and tissue donation.

The American Hospital Association joined the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations and Eye Bank Association of America members to offer the opportunity to handwrite a dedication to be placed on the 2014 Donate Life Rose Parade Float, themed “Light Up the World.”

The 2014 Donate Life Rose Parade Float entry features a festival of lanterns illuminating 30 riders – all grateful organ and tissue transplant recipients – and 12 living organ donors walking alongside to demonstrate their ongoing vitality.

Five enormous lamps are adorned with 72 memorial floragraph portraits of deceased donors whose legacies of life shine brightly. The riders are seated throughout a dedication garden filled with thousands of roses bearing personal messages of love, hope and remembrance.