Wall Teen's Life-Saving Gifts To Be Honored At Rose Parade

WALL, NJ — When he was completing his CCD studies at Holy Innocents Church, Luke Bautista of Wall wrote that one of the thing he learned was "how the goodness of one man can change hundreds of lives."

On New Year's Day, Luke Bautista — who already has changed more than a hundred lives — will have the opportunity to reach millions. Luke, who died in 2016 at the age of 15, will be memorialized on the Donate Life float in the 129th annual Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, CA, which reaches 50 million television viewers around the world.

Luke Bautista died in 2016 at the age of 15, but his passing saved the lives of five others, when his parents, Chris and Carla agreed to donate his organs, something they felt their son would want. Earlier this year, Luke was chosen by Neary Quinn Funeral Home and the Dignity Memorial Providers of New Jersey to be the subject of a “floragraph”— a portrait made of floral and natural materials — to be featured on the Donate Life float at the Rose Parade.

On Wednesday, Nov. 15, his family and friends will have the opportunity to put the finishing touches on the floragraph at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, according to a news release from Neary Quinn Funeral Home in Manasquan. The event, set for 6 p.m., will complete the picture created by the artists commissioned by the Donate Lie organization.

The theme of the 2018 Rose Parade is “Making A Difference,” and the Donate Life float by Paradiso Parade Floats aims to raise awareness of the need for organ, eye and tissue donors, the news release said.

Luke Bautista was a student at Wall High School, where he was a part of the TV Production Club, had a passion for music, and attended countless rock concerts as an aspiring drummer.

After his death, Luke was able to save five lives through the donations of his heart, kidneys, liver and pancreas. His heart went to a 14-year-old boy from New York; his liver to a 55-year-old man from New Jersey. His kidneys went to two men from New Jersey — the right to a 30-year-old male and the left to a 27-year-old — and his pancreas was transplanted into a 36-year-old woman from Pennsylvania, Chris Bautista has said.

In addition, skin and tissue donations helped nearly 100 others, and his descending thoracic aorta was donated to create dialysis ports, the news release said.

>> READ MORE: Wall Teen's Final Gift: Saving Lives Through Organ Donation

"It is fitting for Luke to be included in the ‘Gift of Time’ Donate Life Rose Parade float because his impact and inspiration are truly timeliness," Chris Bautista said. The family has been deeply involved with the NJ Sharing Network since not long after Luke's death, with Team Luke created to participate in the network's annual 5K to further spread awareness of organ donation.

"The team’s mission is to not only honor Luke’s memory by celebrating his life, but also follow his example by spreading love, laughter and light to share with others," Chris Bautista said.

"Through this donation, Luke Bautista has made an immeasurable impact on the lives of so many, and Dignity Memorial providers of New Jersey are proud to honor him at the Rose Parade," said John Hassler, manager of Neary Quinn Funeral Home. "We hope the floragraph portrait and the Donate Life float bring awareness to the importance of being a registered donor and giving others the chance at a new life."

NJ Sharing Network, a nonprofit organization responsible for the recovery and placement of donated organs and tissue for those in need of a life-saving transplant, served as the intermediary between the Bautista family, medical facilities and the patients whose lives were saved by Bautista’s donation.

"Honoring Luke Bautista at the national level with a floragraph on the Donate Life Rose Parade Float is fitting tribute," said Joseph Roth, president and CEO of the NJ Sharing Network. "Luke has saved many lives as an organ and tissue donor and his story has inspired countless others in his community.”

Donate Life America is an alliance of national organizations and state teams across the United States, including the NJ Sharing Network, that promote organ donation. Dignity Memorial, North America’s largest network of funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers, is a top sponsor of the Donate Life Rose Parade float.

The Donate Life Rose Parade float’s mission is to inspire 50 million television viewers to give the gifts of life by signing up to be organ and tissue donors on their respective state registries.

Photo collage of Luke Bautista, courtesy of Chris Bautista