OneLegacy

“Thankful for all organ donors. I was blessed with two beautiful, healthy lungs a little over six years ago. I wrote to my donor family through the hospital shortly after my transplant and again on my first and second anniversaries. I never heard back, so I respect their wish to remain anonymous and will not write again.

I am so grateful. There aren’t any words worthy enough to express my profound gratitude. I was on the verge of dying and will be forever grateful until I take my last breath on this earth.

The first photo is right after surgery when I was 68. The second is less than two weeks after surgery, when I moved to the step-down unit. The last photo is how I look today at 74.”

—Judy S.

“In 2024, our family was given a gift we can never repay: the gift of life for my son through organ donation.

Because of his donor and the selfless decision of their family, my son was given a second chance at life. Today, he is 2½ years post-transplant, back to work, enjoying life, making memories and doing the things we once wondered if he would ever be able to do again.

We are forever grateful for the donor who made this possible and for the family who, in the midst of unimaginable loss, chose to give the gift of life to others. There truly are no words big enough to express our gratitude.

My son and his wife have now turned that gratitude into action by volunteering with Donate Life and helping spread awareness about the importance of organ donation. Our extended family has also joined them in participating in the OneLegacy Donate Life Walk/Run, walking together in honor of his donor and in celebration of the life he was given.

Every step we take is a reminder of how precious life is and how one selfless gift can change an entire family forever.

We will never forget where this second chance came from, and we will always carry our donor and their family in our hearts.

Donate Life. Give hope. Give life. ”

—Carolina E.

“Organ donors are real heroes. I’m in my 20th year after receiving a liver transplant. Thanks to my donor, I met all of my grandkids, who weren’t born at the time of my transplant. There aren’t any words to express my gratitude for organ donors.”

—Heather A.

Surprise! Dr. Simi will be riding our float at the East LA Mexican Independence Day Parade this Sunday!🎉

Dr. Simi, the beloved symbol of accessible healthcare, empathy, and community in Mexico, joins OneLegacy this year at the parade as his journey continues here in the United States.

Don't miss the opportunity to say hello to Dr. Simi during the parade, beginning at 10 AM!🙌

A beloved mustachioed guest is joining our float this Sunday! Can you guess who it might be?

Come celebrate with us and our special guest at the East LA Mexican Independence Day Parade on Sunday, September 13th at 10 AM.

Stay tuned for the reveal of our surprise guest...

“I was diagnosed with hereditary pulmonary arterial hypertension in 2020. I received a double-lung transplant in October 2025, and it saved my life!

I was deteriorating quickly in the last year before my transplant. I was on supplemental oxygen 24/7, and my O2 saturation was 89% even with oxygen. I weighed less than 120 pounds. My heart was enlarged from having to work so hard to get blood to my lungs.

I am incredibly thankful and indebted to organ donors who have saved so many lives by making the choice to become donors. If I had been healthy enough, I would have been an organ donor myself.

Now that I have been given this second chance at life, I can spend more time with my husband and our sons. Thank you!”

—Heidi B.

OneLegacy honors the passing of our dear friend and dedicated Ambassador, Gerald Freeny, whose life was a powerful testament to the impact of organ donation and a life devoted to service.

A two-time liver transplant recipient and kidney recipient, Gerald knew personally the extraordinary gift made possible by organ donors and their families. He carried that gratitude with him throughout his life, generously sharing his story as a dedicated OneLegacy Ambassador and passionate advocate for donation.

Gerald was a familiar and beloved presence at OneLegacy events, where he spoke often about the importance of donation and worked tirelessly to build awareness, particularly within the African American community. In 2022, he proudly represented the donation and transplantation community as a rider on the OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade® float.

His remarkable legacy of service extended far beyond OneLegacy. Gerald served as President of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association, spent 28 years in law enforcement and devoted decades to organizations throughout the Pasadena community.

We are deeply grateful for the years Gerald spent alongside us, for every story he shared, every person he inspired and every conversation he helped begin.

Gerald, thank you for showing us what it means to live with gratitude, purpose and a commitment to others. Your legacy will live on.

“My son gave the gift of life through organ, eye and tissue donation. I love hearing stories about the lives changed by those precious gifts.”

—Ant B.

“My sister, Carissa, was born with a serious heart problem (TGA) and had open-heart surgery at just 3 months old. She did well throughout childhood, but by age 15, her heart had begun to weaken. At 18, she had a pacemaker and defibrillator implanted and was placed on the transplant waiting list.

On Oct. 14, 2001, Carissa received her new heart. Because of the selfless gift of an organ donor, we were given 15 more years with her. Sadly, Carissa passed away suddenly in January 2017.

My family and I will forever be grateful for her donor and the donor’s family for honoring their loved one’s wishes and giving us those precious extra years with Carissa.”

—Robyn S.