Treasure Every Moment Together–that’s the theme of the Donor Network West float at this year’s Rose Parade in Pasadena. 18-year-old Christian Gomez from Watsonville will be on it. “I look forward to meeting the other honorees at the Rose Parade and learning about their journeys,” said Christian Gomez. Christian’s journey starts back in 2007. He was born prematurely at 34 weeks, weighing only 3 pounds and 11 ounces, and his skin and eyes were very yellow. Watsonville Community Hospital referred him to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital where he was diagnosed with biliary atresia. “We were scared. We didn’t really know what it meant,” said Christian’s mom, Maria Gomez.Stanford doctors told the Gomez family Christian would need a transplant and would not survive without one. “Waiting on that waitlist, you don’t know when it’s going to arrive, if it even arrives on time. He didn’t have much time. So I was very lucky I was a match,” said Maria Gomez. Maria donated a portion of her liver to Christian and that transplant lasted 17 years. “I have been able to go to school. Play soccer. Just enjoy my life,” he said. But liver issues returned and Christian ended up back on the national transplant waiting list in 2024. A frustrating and devastating moment for him and his family. “Really made me upset but it all comes to a point where you really just have to move on, keep going and pushing through,” he explained. “I am very proud of my son. He’s been very strong. He’s been a fighter. And he continues to be positive about all of this, even if it’s a tough road,” said his mom. That tough road got a little easier in May of this year, when Christian and his family got a call about a donor who was a match. He successfully received a second transplant, this time a full liver donation. “Hopefully this is it. And I just keep living my dream,” he said. Now Chistian is being celebrated by Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, where he’s had both transplant surgeries and treatment, and Donor Network West. Christian says his mission now is to spread the word about organ donation as he is living proof of how it saves lives. “You really can save a lot of lives,” he said. Maria said, “It’s a great gift. When you are able to donate, it gives you a selfless gift. You’re literally giving another person a chance to live.” Something Christian and his family celebrate every day. They know how to treasure every moment together and they’ll do so at the Rose Parade this New Year’s Day. More than 20,000 people await transplants just here in California. To become a registered donor, there’s a link here: https://www.donornetworkwest.org/.
WATSONVILLE, Calif. —
Treasure Every Moment Together–that’s the theme of the Donor Network West float at this year’s Rose Parade in Pasadena.
18-year-old Christian Gomez from Watsonville will be on it. “I look forward to meeting the other honorees at the Rose Parade and learning about their journeys,” said Christian Gomez.
Christian’s journey starts back in 2007. He was born prematurely at 34 weeks, weighing only 3 pounds and 11 ounces, and his skin and eyes were very yellow. Watsonville Community Hospital referred him to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital where he was diagnosed with biliary atresia.
“We were scared. We didn’t really know what it meant,” said Christian’s mom, Maria Gomez.
Stanford doctors told the Gomez family Christian would need a transplant and would not survive without one. “Waiting on that waitlist, you don’t know when it’s going to arrive, if it even arrives on time. He didn’t have much time. So I was very lucky I was a match,” said Maria Gomez.
Maria donated a portion of her liver to Christian and that transplant lasted 17 years. “I have been able to go to school. Play soccer. Just enjoy my life,” he said.
But liver issues returned and Christian ended up back on the national transplant waiting list in 2024. A frustrating and devastating moment for him and his family.
“Really made me upset but it all comes to a point where you really just have to move on, keep going and pushing through,” he explained. “I am very proud of my son. He’s been very strong. He’s been a fighter. And he continues to be positive about all of this, even if it’s a tough road,” said his mom.
That tough road got a little easier in May of this year, when Christian and his family got a call about a donor who was a match. He successfully received a second transplant, this time a full liver donation. “Hopefully this is it. And I just keep living my dream,” he said.
Now Chistian is being celebrated by Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, where he’s had both transplant surgeries and treatment, and Donor Network West.
Christian says his mission now is to spread the word about organ donation as he is living proof of how it saves lives. “You really can save a lot of lives,” he said.
Maria said, “It’s a great gift. When you are able to donate, it gives you a selfless gift. You’re literally giving another person a chance to live.” Something Christian and his family celebrate every day. They know how to treasure every moment together and they’ll do so at the Rose Parade this New Year’s Day.
More than 20,000 people await transplants just here in California. To become a registered donor, there’s a link here: https://www.donornetworkwest.org/.
