Local Girl's Organ Donation Honored at Rose Parade
RICHLAND, Wash. -- Even after her death in a terrible car crash in October 2009, Taylor Tefft's gifts have offered others new life.
The 11-year-old saved five lives, including a toddler on the west side, by donating both of her kidneys, her liver, pancreas and corneas.
Taylor's mom, Jamie Peterson, has become an outspoken advocate for organ donation ever since, "It's going to be a continuous cycle of people that are touched by my daughter that never knew her. It's the ultimate gift: the gift of life."
Jamie has been advocating for an organ procurement non-profit called LifeCenter Northwest.
This week, that non-profit honored the family at the Rose Parade on New Years Day. Jamie, her son, and Taylor's father, flew down to Pasadena, California in early December to decorate a "floragraph" of Taylor that was part of the Donate Life Float.
The tribute was completely unexpected.
"They just called me out of the blue one day and said we would like to honor Taylor at the Rose Parade," Jamie said. "It was amazing."
Jamie's family joined 60 other donor families to memorialize their loved ones. Taylor was an outgoing 11-year old who loved sports, music, animals and her friends. But they were all strangers bound by a common cause.
"If we can prevent one mommy or one daddy from feeling the loss we have felt, then that's what matters," Jamie continued. "That's our way of trying to make this world a better place, in honor of her and in memory of her."
Alexandra Hatley was another girl that died in the crash. She was Taylor's cousin and close friend. She was also an organ donor.
In all of Washington, we found there are almost 1,800 people in the state waiting for life-saving organs.
RESOURCES:
For more information about Taylor and Jamie's story and about LifeCenter Northwest, or to register your wishes, go to www.donatelifetoday.com
The 11-year-old saved five lives, including a toddler on the west side, by donating both of her kidneys, her liver, pancreas and corneas.
Taylor's mom, Jamie Peterson, has become an outspoken advocate for organ donation ever since, "It's going to be a continuous cycle of people that are touched by my daughter that never knew her. It's the ultimate gift: the gift of life."
Jamie has been advocating for an organ procurement non-profit called LifeCenter Northwest.
This week, that non-profit honored the family at the Rose Parade on New Years Day. Jamie, her son, and Taylor's father, flew down to Pasadena, California in early December to decorate a "floragraph" of Taylor that was part of the Donate Life Float.
The tribute was completely unexpected.
"They just called me out of the blue one day and said we would like to honor Taylor at the Rose Parade," Jamie said. "It was amazing."
Jamie's family joined 60 other donor families to memorialize their loved ones. Taylor was an outgoing 11-year old who loved sports, music, animals and her friends. But they were all strangers bound by a common cause.
"If we can prevent one mommy or one daddy from feeling the loss we have felt, then that's what matters," Jamie continued. "That's our way of trying to make this world a better place, in honor of her and in memory of her."
Alexandra Hatley was another girl that died in the crash. She was Taylor's cousin and close friend. She was also an organ donor.
In all of Washington, we found there are almost 1,800 people in the state waiting for life-saving organs.
RESOURCES:
For more information about Taylor and Jamie's story and about LifeCenter Northwest, or to register your wishes, go to www.donatelifetoday.com
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