Edmond tissue donor will be Rose Parade honoree

LifeShare of Oklahoma has announced that tissue donor Aidan Hooper, of Edmond, will be the floragraph honoree for the 2018 Rose Parade.

LifeShare is the organ procurement organization in Oklahoma responsible for the recovery of organs and tissue for transplant purposes.

After Aidan died in an accident, he was able to give the gift of life by becoming a tissue donor, saving the lives of a 2-year-old girl and a 6-month-old girl.

Every year, LifeShare of Oklahoma helps sponsor the Donate Life Float in the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day to spread the message about organ, eye and tissue donation. As a sponsor, LifeShare is able to send one donor portrait to be honored on the float.

Aidan will be honored as a tissue donor in a floragraph. A floragraph is a portrait of the donor, created with floral materials such as seeds, grains, spices, dried flowers and other organic materials. Aidan is one of 44 donors to be featured on this year’s float.

The 2018 float depicts a vibrantly colored, tropical backdrop that dates back to the ancient civilizations of Mexico. It celebrates the gift of life as 17 costumed riders sit alongside the jungle, against stone carvings, drawing on the strength they have gained from their donors to continue and thrive on life’s journey.

[PHOTOS PROVIDED] ABOVE: Addison Hooper, Aidan Hooper’s little sister, and Susannah Hooper, Aidan’s mother, apply the finishing touches to the floragraph of Aidan. RIGHT: Here is the finalized floragraph of Aidan Hooper.