SANTA
FE, N.M., Dec. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cheryl
"Renee" Roybal, the distinguished Rider Honoree for the 2024
OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade® float, stands as a living mosaic
of hope and unity, embodying the powerful intersectionality of
personal stories, cultural heritage, and the lifesaving impact of
organ, eye, and tissue donation.
Cheryl "Renee" Roybal is Native American, a tribal enrolled
member of the Pueblo de San Ildefonso in New Mexico. At 64 years old, she is the eldest
of four siblings, married, has two wonderful daughters, and is a
"Saya" grandma of 3 grandchildren. Unbeknown to doctors and
herself, she became ill and discovered her heart was enlarged.
She was then placed on the heart transplant list and was
blessed to receive a heart on October 10,
2002, from an 11-year-old girl. She is alive today because
someone's parents said yes to donating their child's organs.
Because of that gift, Renee has seen her girls grow to become women
and marry. She has been able to be present at the births of her
grandchildren and blessed with many other beautiful milestone
memories. Renee is enjoying life and sharing her knowledge of the
importance of organ donation at various events in Northern New Mexico and in her local Native
American communities.
Renee's journey is not merely a personal triumph; it is a shared
narrative of resilience and transformation that resonates with the
core purpose of the
OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade® float.
The float, themed "Woven Together: The Dance of Life,"
serves as a canvas for diverse stories, transcending cultural
boundaries, and showcasing the universal language of music and the
shared experience of organ donation recipients. Renee continues
today to participate in her traditional dances; to her this brings
blessing prayers for life.
Through the artful sharing
of these captivating stories, OneLegacy seeks to gently motivate a groundswell of
registrations, contributing organically to the collective effort to
save and heal lives. The unspoken power of Renee's narrative,
and those of others, lies in the quiet
invitation to join a community
committed to making a difference for the over 100,000
individuals in the U.S. currently awaiting a lifesaving
transplant.
The OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade float is a testament to
the collaborative efforts of more than 20 sponsoring organizations,
including donation, transplant, healthcare, and family care
entities. It brings together individuals from across the country
who share a common goal – promoting the gift of life through organ,
eye, and tissue donation.
Cheryl "Renee" Roybal, with her diverse background and personal triumph,
symbolizes the human connection that transcends cultural,
societal, and geographical boundaries. Her story, like many others,
unfolds on the grand stage of the Rose Parade, inspiring a wave of
registrations and fostering a community committed to saving and
healing lives through the remarkable act of organ, eye, and tissue
donation.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cheryl-renee-roybal-an-emblem-of-hope-and-unity-at-the-2024-onelegacy-donate-life-rose-parade-302020291.html
SOURCE Donate Life California
