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Nicholasville Family to Represent Kentucky Organ Donors in Rose Parade

Janie Fields holds a floragraph of her daughter Missy, who became an eye and tissue donor on May 9, 2004. Photo by Brenna Angel

By Brenna Angel

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Jessamine County family will represent Kentucky in the New Year's Day Rose Parade in California on the 2011 Donate Life float. A floral portrait, or floragraph, depicting eye and tissue donor Missy Fields will decorate the float.

David Fields lost his 22-year-old daughter in a car crash six years ago.

"It just keeps bringing up a celebration for us that we get a chance to remember our daughter and all the things that she does continually, even that she's gone now."

Mom Janie Fields says Missy had made the decision to become an organ and tissue donor when she signed the back of her driver's license at age 16.

"David kept coming back to me in the waiting room at UK and saying Are you sure? Are you sure?' But we didn't have a choice. We had to do this; it was Missy's wish."

Missy's corneas allowed two people to see, and her skin tissue was used to treat burn victims.

Health experts say across the U.S. there are more than 100,000 people on a transplant waiting-list.