Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and One Legacy posthumously honored an organ donor Tuesday and announced that his image would be featured on a 2019 Tournament of Roses Parade float.

Following his life-saving organ donation, Alexander Sonora, 21, of Santa Ana will be featured on the 2019 Donate Life’s “Rhythm of the Heart” float at the 130th Rose Parade in Pasadena on New Year’s Day as part of One Legacy’s efforts to comfort the families of donors.

In memory of Sonora, his image is set to be presented on a floragraph, a portrait created with floral materials.

Sonora died as a result of a car crash on Nov. 30, 2011. His family never spoke of death and organ donation, but once he was declared brain dead, they thought about how the situation could save the lives of others and honor his legacy.

“He was a young man who suffered an unfortunate accident, but he gave the ‘yes’ to organ donation,” said Tania Llavaneras, media relations specialist for One Legacy.

The family felt that the donation could serve as an example to show others how good can come from a tragedy by helping those in need, according to officials.

As a result, Sonora saved four lives through his organ donation, giving his family the opportunity to meet the recipients.

“The only person that we haven’t met is the heart recipient, who we hope to meet soon,” said Irving Sonora, the donor’s brother.

With a single organ donor, eight people’s lives can be saved and also improve the lives of as many as 75 more by donating their corneas and tissue, according to the organization.

After his donation, Sonora’s family has participated in many events to honor him, including the Donate Life Run Walk and decorating the Donate Life Rose Parade float.

This year, Sonora’s floral portrait is set to be featured on the 2019 Donate Life Float.

Officials from One Legacy unveiled the floragraph to his family and asked that they each write a short message about him, which will be featured with hundreds more on the parade float.

The floragraph will be featured among 43 other portraits on the float honoring the lives of organ donors, and raising awareness of the importance of life-saving organ donations, according to Llavaneras.

Celebrating its 16th year of participating in the parade, the Tournament of Roses Donate Life Parade float is said to be the centerpiece of a national effort to reach a broad audience with the simple, life-giving message that organ, eye and tissue donation saves and heals lives, according to officials.

Serving more than 200 hospitals, 11 transplant centers and a diverse population of nearly 20 million, One Legacy is the largest organ, eye and tissue recovery organization in the world, according to the organization.

And while Sonora’s family has been able to support other donor families in their grief journey, his mother Margarita has also taken steps in her community to help others.

As a form of education within her community, she creates tissue paper flowers and gives them to people as a way to educate them on the importance of organ, tissue and eye donation, according to officials.

For more information about One Legacy, visit the website here.

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