I was invited to ride on the 2009 Donate Life Float in the Rose Parade!!! I was incredibly honored to have been invited by Gift of Hope in Illinois...
Before I went, and while I was there, I created several posts at our blog, Revive Hope, about my adventure...
Here are links to those posts in somewhat of a chronology:
August 1, 2008 -- Light bulb, light bulb, pearls, pearls...
- About my invitation to ride the Donate Life Float in the Rose Parade...
October 1, 2008 -- Stars of Life Twinkle (by Melissa...)
- Among other things, about float rider and heart recipient, Bonnie Lundy...
October 2, 2008 -- Stars of Life Twinkle Part II
- Among other things, about float rider Steve Ferkau (me)...
November 19, 2008 -- Who are they? (by Melissa...)
- Melissa's post about the floragraphs honoring donors, that will be riding the float with us...
December 11, 2008 -- Dedications...
- About the Family Circle Garden and our roses dedicated to Chase, Chloe and Kari...
December 18, 2008 -- What game?
- A video post, and a regular post, about my seeming lack of understanding about the entire Rose Parade situation...
December 24, 2008 -- Christmas in California (by Melissa...)
- This is Melissa's thank you for Steve being her "Santa" by placing Chloe's roses in the Familiy Circle Garden...
December 26, 2008 -- Roses and Robbie...
- Christina helps coordinate rose dedications in the Family Circle Garden - this is about her brother Robbie, who was an organ donor...
December 26, 2008 -- Rose Bowl Tickets!!!
- Pictures and a video about getting my butt out of a sling...
December 28, 2008 -- We're in Pasadena!!!
- Arriving in Pasadena -- pictures and videos about our agenda...
December 29, 2008 -- Donate Life Float - Rose Dedications...
- Pictures, dedications, and videos about placing roses in the Family Circle Garden for Chase, Chloe and Kari...
December 29, 2008 -- Aspirations... And fun...
- About beating life expectancies, and having fun...
December 31, 2008 -- Dear Steve... (by Melissa...)
- A little thank you picture from Melissa for placing Chloe's roses...
December 31, 2008 -- Ready to roll... Donate Life Float
- A few videos and a post about the "Stars of Life Gala" and our dress rehearsal for the float ride...
January 1, 2009 -- I'm on my way...
- A brief post before I left for the Rose Parade...
January 1, 2009 -- A lot more than I ever imagined...
- A brief post after the parade - our float won the "Queen's Trophy" and I was a little too tired and overwhelmed to post...
January 4, 2009 -- Donate Life Float - Judging...
- A fun and late post about Judging on December 31st, with an emotional video of the judging and the lyrics of the song -- "There you'll be..."
January 6, 2009 -- Parade Day!!!
- A fun and late post with pictures and videos from the float during the parade!
January 8, 2008 -- Taking a breather...
- A non-post, with a lot of pictures of so many of the people I met and became friends with in the short week of the parade...
January 22, 2008 -- Iowans, and half-Iowans in Pasadena...
- Some of the special Iowans I met in the time surrounding the parade -- and one who went home and blogged about us meeting...
1 comments:
My husband and I and 8 friends were at the Rose Parade. We this float being decorated, in the parade and post parade. It was especially moving to us, since our daughter-in-law was recipient of 2 lungs a little more than a year ago. We were so moved by the float, and the "florographs". Medicine has certainly come a long way, with more yet to go. We congratulate you and all the other people on the float in person or by image. It was very exceptional, both visually and emotionally.
Elaine K.
Post a Comment