Fiesta Bowl Parade Celebrates Heroes of Organ Donation with Inspiring Lifesaving Gifts

PHOENIX — The Fiesta Bowl Parade, held on Saturday, featured a poignant display as families of organ donors and transplant recipients participated to honor lives saved through organ donations. Among the notable participants were Rob and Shannon Rayburn, who commemorated their daughter Adison, a donor who passed away a year prior due to an asthma attack.

Shannon reflected on Adison’s love for life, stating, “She was a lover of life. She loved all people, all walks of life.” Along the parade route, they were supported by 25 family members, underscoring the lasting impact of Adison’s decision to be a donor. “One year ago today, she left this world, but a few pieces of her stayed behind,” Shannon expressed, emphasizing that Adison’s donations saved three lives.

Adison had registered as an organ donor twice, a testament to her commitment to sharing life with others. “With every step we take today, we’re honoring her and all the people who have donated their gifts to save other people’s lives as well,” Shannon said. Such stories are at the core of the organ donation movement, highlighting its critical importance.

Laura Gober, a heart transplant recipient, shared her own journey during the parade. “My heart just stopped working,” she recounted. Within a month of her diagnosis, she received a new heart, emphasizing the life-changing impact of organ donation. “I know it’s very hard for organ donors to say goodbye to their loved one, but they’re living on,” Gober remarked, living every day with gratitude for her donor.

The parade served as a moving reminder of the power of organ donation, fostering connections among families who have experienced loss and hope. With over 100,000 people in the United States awaiting life-saving organ transplants, the urgency for awareness and action remains vital. “Register to donate,” Shannon urged the crowd. “You just never know whose life you might save.”

As the emotional gathering unfolded, it was clear that the spirit of those who have given the gift of life lives on, inspiring many to consider becoming organ donors and to support this lifesaving mission.