Ava was healthy for most of her life until she developed a rare autoimmune disease called dermatomyositis. Her condition went misdiagnosed and continued advancing, eventually destroying all of her well-honed dancer's muscles. Ava went from being a 'super woman' to needing a walker and her body started shutting down. While on her way to a doctor's appointment, Ava fell down, unconscious, was rushed to the hospital and placed on life support. The disease destroyed Ava's heart and she needed a new one. Ava received a heart transplant in 2009 at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. To honor her donor, Ava founded Ava's Heart, a non-profit organization that provides transplant candidates with the housing required to get listed for an organ transplant, as well as assistance to donor families with final expenses.

For many years Charles "Chuck" Pruitt was told he had liver disease. In May of 2013, Chuck was told he had about one year to live. He was placed at the top of the list for a liver transplant and on August 16, 2014, Chuck received the liver of a nineteen-year-old young man named Bryan, who died after a motorcycle accident. This brought out memories of Chuck's own life at that age and how his donor would never experience things such as having a career, a family, or grandkids. After his transplant, Chuck began setting survival goals; a day, a week, 1,000 days. When that was reached, he set a new survival goal. His Great-Grandfather William lived to 108 years of age. Chuck's goal now is to outlive him.

Lynda Trachtman was diagnosed in 1985 with what is known today as hepatitis C. She discovered 6 years later that she was misdiagnosed and that she was HIV positive. The combination of HIV attacking her liver, along with early HIV antivirals such as AZT, led to a fatty liver and subsequently liver disease. Many people volunteered to donate part of their liver to Lynda, but her beautiful 25-year-old niece, Sherri, insisted she wanted to be the donor. Sherri was a perfect match! The transplant team at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York performed her transplant surgery without knowing how much immunosuppressive medication to give a person who was already immunocompromised, and Lynda became the first woman in the world to undergo this relatively new live donor transplantation.

Rene Sorrentino's life and career were great - until a routine physical exam revealed that a virus was slowly destroying her liver. Her only hope was a transplant. She was placed on the transplant list at UCLA. She waited for two years while dealing with multiple hospitalizations and procedures to keep her alive. In February of 2014, her brother flew in from Florida to say goodbye. He asked the doctor if he could take Rene back to Florida with him, where she would perhaps get a liver sooner. The next day after her arrival and admission into Florida Hospital, Rene learned that a liver was available for her. Rene has since met her donor's family. Nicholas Paquette, her donor, will be honored with a floragraph on the Donate Life float.

Gabriela Hernandez was an amazing daughter and sister. The oldest of 5, she always cared for her three younger brothers and little sister. Hardworking and family-oriented, Gabriela provided support and help to her mom and siblings, working two jobs and assisting her siblings with their homework. Gabriela also enjoyed playing soccer and watching soccer matches with her family. She loved dancing to both Latin and pop music. At the young age of 24, Gabriela was a passenger in her friend's car when they were involved in a 6-car crash caused by a drunk driver. Upon her sudden death, she was able to restore sight to two people as a cornea donor. Her mom and siblings honor Gabriela's memory by participating in OneLegacy's Donate Life Run/Walk and other remembrance events.

Adrian told his mother he wanted to be an organ donor in November of 2013. Two months later, he developed flu-like symptoms and tragically passed away to meningitis at 22 years old. Adrian was able to donate his lungs, liver and kidneys to three people. Through his decision, Adrian has inspired his family and friends to become registered organ donors. His parents have met and maintain a close relationship with his double lung recipient. Thoughtful, outgoing, passionate, charismatic and with an enthusiasm for life that shined through everything he did, he became the youngest in his company to achieve top seller at 20 years old. He aspired to pursue a career in chemical engineering and was an avid gardener who loved to cook with home-grown vegetables. Adrian will be remembered for his contagious smile and will continue to smile knowing that he was able to help others.

Alyssa Jamie Galvan had charisma, courage, and laughter that filled her family's days with happiness that will always be cherished. Either by raising money through cooking meals for her local football booster club or becoming an avid blood donor, Alyssa was devoted to selflessly helping others. She maintained a 4.0 GPA in high school and attended California State University of Fullerton on a scholarship in summer of 2013. Her aunt, OneLegacy Ambassador Veronica Cosme, and 4 others were saved by the direct donation of her organs. She believed that "I can impact the lives of people I may or may never get the chance to meet. Donating Life is something I can and want to do for the rest of my life."

Xavier was vibrant, easy going, and lovable. His 13 months on earth touched everyone that came into contact with him. His mom was easily his best friend; you wouldn't see him without seeing her close by. She loved him so easily and so uninhibitedly. With the help of OneLegacy and Donate Life California, the decision to encourage others has been met through his donation of his liver, lungs, pancreas, both kidneys and small intestine. The family has had so many chances to celebrate his life and his legacy. They also have the opportunity to share their story and encourage others to make the decision to donate life. Xavier's mom never thought in a million years that she would become an organ donor, but she has seen first-hand how donation can affect so many lives.

Known for his boisterous laugh and awesome smile, you would never guess the struggles Kenneth (Cody) Hodawanus faced daily. School was challenging for him. While reading and writing were extremely difficult, his mechanical and carpentry skills were exemplary. When he was 7, Cody took apart the motor of a vacuum to reassemble it just to see if he could, and he did! In high school, Cody spent 2 years building the most beautiful grandfather clock for his mother. His senior year, the clock won an award at the Riverside County Industrial Education Expo in his senior year. After losing his life in a motorcycle accident, Cody's parents learned he was a registered organ donor. His example of generosity to strangers inspired them to register as donors as well.

From the time they were young, Kevin and Elliott Monroe were a great team. Elliott was a caring and giving person, always including his younger brothers in whatever adventure he was stirring up. So, in 1996, when Elliott was beginning to develop kidney failure and go on dialysis, Kevin knew that he would be the one to donate one of his kidneys to Elliott. In fact, Kevin was the first, and as it turned out, only person in the Monroe family to be tested because he was a perfect match.

As he prepared to ride the 2007 Donate Life Rose Parade float, Kevin said, "I can't but to think back about Elliott: the influence he had on my life, and those around him, and the fact that he still is an influence in our lives."

Sharon Dziubala became ill in 1995 with cirrhosis of the liver and was placed on the national organ transplant list. As she joined the thousands waiting for lifesaving organs, Sharon's condition continued to deteriorate.

Armed with his convictions, much transplant information, and some reassuring prayers, Keith knew what he wanted to do. At first Sharon said no, as she feared for him, her eldest daughter Susan, and their three young children. But Keith's mind was made up. Upon further testing, they found he was a perfect donor match.

Today, Sharon is once again living a normal life and is even able to travel. She and her husband recently took a two-week trip to Yellowstone National Park.

Jaime had always been interested in donation and transplantation because her mother's family has Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). She lost relatives at early ages to the disease and never knew her mother's father, as he died from PKD when she was only 18 years old. Jaime watched other relatives suffer through years of dialysis, becoming sicker and sicker, while they waited for a transplant. She can vividly remember her mother telling her on more than one occasion "I am so glad you were adopted, we don't have to worry about you getting this (disease)."

In November of 1997, Jaime gave her uncle a kidney. He has not had one rejection episode or complication. Every year, he receives a clean bill of health, and his medication continues to be reduced, not increased. It's a perfect match, and it's a miracle. Jaime shares "We have both learned and benefited so much from being part of this miracle. It's a bond and experience that no one can possibly fathom who hasn't been through it. I don't see myself as a hero; I see myself as someone who was lucky enough to be the one who could help keep someone I loved very much here on earth a little longer."

In 1996, Hooshang Torabi's wife, Karen, was hospitalized with a mysterious illness that caused her to slip into a seemingly irreversible coma. Much to everyone's surprise, Karen awoke two weeks later, but with permanent kidney damage. She was put on peritoneal dialysis and placed on the national organ transplant waiting list. Finding a match was difficult; everyone in her family over the age of 18 was tested, to no avail. Her doctors thought she might be on dialysis permanently.

Fortunately, the Torabis' luck changed. In 1998, their youngest daughter Saba turned 18 and she was found to be a match. "If it was not for my daughter's kind and generous heart, and her kidney, my wife would not be alive today," Hooshang confirmed.

Dan Sandoval knows that blood is life. Five years ago, his godson Brandon Broadhurst needed regular blood transfusions at Loma Linda University Medical Center to survive leukemia. "My godson survived what I thought was certain death and is alive and well because people cared enough to give blood,"

Dan affirms. A year later, one of Dan's closest friends, Francien Cravens, was scheduled for surgery that would require a blood transfusion. He was able to donate a pint of blood to her.

"It was an unusual feeling knowing that my blood was running through her body and was helping to keep her alive."