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Organ Donor

161 views · Published 12 December 2012 · 2:15 · Indexed 16 October 2026

Channel: WTVC NewsChannel 9 · 2012 · News & Politics

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By Jerry Askin   In a few weeks, the family of a 9-year old organ donor will be heading to California to sit in the Grand Stands at the Rose Bowl Parade. Tuesday morning, the girl was honored at Wallace Smith Elementary School. She was chosen this year as the Tennessee representative for donor services.Tuesday, Jessie's parents and younger sister put the final touches on her floragraph.  It'll be one of 72 floragraphs - all from organ donors -- riding on the Donate for Life float at the Rose Bowl Parade on New Years Day."Jessie was 9-years old in 2008 when she collapsed of a brain aneurysm and ultimately died from that brain aneurysm," says Robert Starnes, Jessie's father.After Jessie died, her parents agreed to donate 7 of her organs to help save others."It's been such a wonderful healing process because we did give and I always try to look at what good has come out of it, instead of my daughter's not here anymore," says Jessie's mother, Lisa Rousseau.And Jessie herself was no stranger to giving."Jessie would always give away her school supplies....and she'd say mom I need more pencils, mom I need more paper," says Robert Starnes.It explains a desk at Wallace Smith Elementary School, known as Jessie's desk. Jessie's family created it to help provide children in need with school supplies."She gave a lot when she was here and she's still giving. And we get to keep this message going," says Lisa Rousseau.Jessie's father says being at the parade will be bittersweet, but the thought of Jessie helping someone else, brings him to tears. "I'd love to meet the girl who got Jessie's heart.. I'd love to put a stethoscope and hear her heart beating," says Jessie's father Robert Starnes, as he got emotional.Jessie's family will leave for the Rose Bowl on December 28th.  To find out how you can become an organ donor, log on to http://www.donatelifetn.org/index.aspx

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