Valley organ donor honored in Rose parade float

MAT-SU — Friday will be special for the Carney family of Wasilla, who will remember their daughter’s life, untimely death and her gift through the Donate Life Rose Parade Float in the Tournament of Roses parade.

Andrea Carney was an outgoing and friendly teenager at Wasilla High School before her tragic death in January 2000, her mother Karen Carney said. However, she added, “Out of horrible tragedies good things can come of it.”

The good things she spoke of was Andrea’s decision to be a organ and tissue donor.

“When she got her (driver’s) license she wanted to be a donor and we (her parents) gave her permission, it was a great decision,” Carney said.

It was a decision that made later choices easier for the Carneys.

“We (her family) all knew instantly that it was the right thing to do and that it is what she would have wanted,” Karen Carney said.

Through her daughter’s life, Karen Carney hopes others will realize the importance of tissue and organ donations for recipients.

“They are so grateful, and for many it is quite literally a second chance at life. You know some people need knee ligaments and then there are other people who need a heart or a liver,” she said.

Andrea will be the second Alaskan to be honored in the Donate Life Rose Parade Float.

“Were very excited for Andrea to be honored at the Tournament of Roses,” her mother said.

This year, the float will for the first time have representative from every state, said Michael French, public education coordinator for Life Alaska Donor Services.

This year marks a special time for Alaskans, he said.

“The state of Alaska has an overall 55 percent enrollment in organ and tissue donors, which is more per capita than any other state in the country. And we also are the only state to be above 50 percent,” he said.

French believes Alaskans’ caring and compassionate nature is the reason for the state’s high rating. It is a trend he hopes to see continue.

“There are 103,000 people in the country and roughly 106 in Alaska that are in need of organ and tissue donations. And everyday that passes, 18 of those people will die,” he said.

French encourages people to at least have a discussion with their families about organ donation no matter what their stance on it is.

“Our research has shown that it is much easier on families in difficult times to make a decision either way if a previous conversation has been made,” he said.

Those interested in becoming a donor can do so at the DMV, through the Life Alaska Donor Services website at alaskadonorregistry.org, or by contacting Life Alaska at 562-5433 and requesting a donor form be mailed to you.

The Donate Life Rose Parade Float will be the fourth float in the Tournament of Roses, which airs at 7 a.m. Friday on the Travel Channel or HGTV.

Contact Lanier Hutcheson at lanier.hutcheson@frontiersman.com or 352-2265.