(Madera, Calif.) – Valley Children’s joined family members in honoring the life of 10-year-old Francine Salazar on Tuesday with the unveiling of a special memorial floragraph portrait.
Francine passed away on August 10, 2019, and was able to save the lives of four people through organ donation. On the second anniversary of her passing, Valley Children’s, Donor Network West, friends and family came together to honor and remember Francine’s legacy. The memorial floragraph portrait was featured as a part of the 2021 Donate Life Rose Parade® floral sculpture, Community of Life, and will be on display inside Valley Children’s Hospital throughout the month of August.
“Francine’s story and her parents’ thankfulness and confidence in our team for supporting them during the most critical life journey a parent can face, humbly reinforces for me the reason we come to work every day – to make a difference for our kids, families and each other,” said Beverly Hayden-Pugh, senior vice president, chief nursing officer and chief transformation officer.
Francine’s gift and story not only made a remarkable impact in the lives of those she saved, but in the hearts of her community. For the first time in the hospital’s history, Valley Children’s doctors and staff held an honor walk to recognize Francine’s incredible gift. Her video has been viewed more than 10 million times on YouTube and continues to help bring awareness to the life-saving impact of organ, eye and tissue donation.