Published on Dec. 20, 2024
On Friday, Dec. 20, family members of organ donor David Compton gathered with the care team at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center to commemorate the 10th anniversary of his passing. The emotional event marked a milestone in David’s legacy as his loved ones placed the finishing touches on a floragraph – a portrait made from natural materials – that will honor him on the OneLegacy Donate Life Float in the upcoming 136th Rose Parade.
This year, the Donate Life Float theme is koi fish, a symbol of perseverance, transformation, and strength. The theme felt particularly poignant to David’s family, as they recalled that David had a tattoo of koi fish on his arm. Though this personal detail was known only to those closest to him, his family found it deeply meaningful that the year he was chosen to be honored coincided with such a profound and symbolic theme.
“It is an incredible honor to remember my son in this way. David had such a giving heart, and David’s greatest and final gift was one of life and hope. To see his image displayed on the OneLegacy Rose Parade float is a powerful reminder of the impact he continues to have.”
- Dewey Compton, father of David Compton
The ceremony began with a heartfelt blessing and concluded with the raising of the Donate Life flag by Long Beach Medical Center’s public safety team, honoring David’s life and the enduring legacy of all organ donors. During the event, the Compton family lovingly placed the finishing touches on David’s floragraph by filling in his eyebrows, a meaningful moment that connected them even more deeply to his tribute. Adding to the significance of this, members of David’s care team stepped forward to write personal messages, which were placed in vials alongside roses on OneLegacy’s float.
Each rose on the float carries a message of life and the gift of organ donation. The vials display handwritten dedications from care teams and families – messages to loved ones or notes emphasizing the importance of organ donation. Remarkably, OneLegacy’s float is the only one in the Rose Parade permitted to incorporate paper, symbolizing the profound significance these messages hold within the community.
“On average, a single organ donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and can potentially improve the lives of an additional 75 people by donating tissues,” said Dr. Joe B. Kim, chief medical officer, Long Beach Medical Center. “David’s legacy is a lasting inspiration, urging others to make the same life-changing choice that offers new beginnings and second chances. As we approach the 2025 Rose Parade, we are reminded of the profound legacy David leaves behind – a legacy that will be beautifully honored through the floragraph his family completes today.”
This meaningful event underscores the nearly two-decade partnership between Long Beach Medical Center and OneLegacy, the nation’s largest organ procurement organization. Together, the organizations work to raise awareness about the lifesaving and life-enhancing impact of organ and tissue donation. Through collaborative efforts like this ceremony, Long Beach Medical Center and OneLegacy highlight the incredible ripple effect of hope and healing that organ donors create.
Long Beach Medical Center demonstrates its commitment to honoring organ donors through practices like the Donate Life flag-raising ceremony and honor walks, where hospital staff and families line the halls to pay tribute to donors as they are transported for organ procurement. These acts of respect, alongside events like today’s floragraph dedication, serve to celebrate the generosity of donors and their families while encouraging others to consider registering as organ donors.