Fresno organ donor to be honored during 2023 Rose Parade

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Today, a local hero was remembered.

27-year-old Fresno native Miguel "Mickey" Garcia had a lifelong fight with autism, and then he gave the ultimate gift.

On Friday, he was recognized and honored by Donate Life as one of 44 honorees featured in the 2023 Donate Life Rose Parade Float.

The 2023 Donate Life Rose Parade float honors millions of people touched by organ, eye, and tissue donations.

Each year, Donate Network West participates in the Rose Parade with a remarkable float to display the miracles of organ donations with faces of organ donors across the nation who made the gift of life possible.

Miguel gave the ultimate gift through organ donation, allowing four other people in need to have a second chance at life.

His family said this was a way to keep his legacy alive.

His younger brother, Jesse Garcia, helped take care of him. "He was very charismatic, he liked being around people. He cared about people's feelings. Even though he could not show emotion, he showed emotion in a way by just his presence," Garcia said.

During the event, Garcia's family finished the eyebrows of his floragraph portrait.

The memento will now travel back to Pasadena to be featured on the float with a Chinese dragon with memorial floragraphs, all representing those who have given the gift of life.

According to Donor Network West, more than 100,000 people are waiting for an organ transplant in the U.S.

Donations from just one person can save up to eight lives. "When you think all hope is lost, it makes up for knowing that his soul lives in others and it allows them to continue their lives," Garcia said.

Donor Dad German Amezcua also lost his son Sebastian in a fatal car accident 15 years ago, today. Sebastian was able to save three lives. Now, he works for Donor Network West -- helping to save lives.

Amezcua said, "This is a great event to be able to remember and honor our donors, to bring light to the need like you said but also to show that we are still remembering them."

On average, 22 people die each day while waiting for a transplant.

If you want to learn more about becoming a donor, you can visit Donor Network West's website.