PASADENA, Calif. — Three years ago, Milisa Tyler lost her son Dominic to suicide.
As an organ donor, Dominic was able to save four lives after his death by donating his kidney, liver and heart.
Now, Dominic and his mom are being honored at one of the most famous parades in America.
On New Year’s Day, Tyler will see her son’s face adorned on the OneLegacy Donate Life float at the Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif.
“Dominic was kind, funny,” Tyler said. “He loved to joke around. He had a really big heart and he liked to help other people.”
Tyler said she knows her son would be thrilled he helped others through organ donation.
Now, she is spending the weekend with other donor families.
“It feels good to be around people who have gone through similar things and who know that donation is like something that we cling to because we lost someone that gave these gifts,” Tyler said.
The Iowa Donor Network typically brings two families each year to the Rose Parade.
They said currently, there are 637 Iowans who need an organ.
“Organ donation is a complicated process," said Anna Hobart, event specialist for Iowa Donor Network. "So, if there's something you have questions about, go to our website, iowadonornetwork.org [and] reach out to somebody. We're always extremely happy to talk through that process with anybody who is questioning it."
For Tyler, who also works at the Iowa Donor Network, her son’s donation is leaving a lasting impact.
“Dominic’s face is going to be on the Donate Life Rose Parade float, for OneLegacy. So that's, it's an amazing thing,” Tyler said.