CAPITOL FOR THE NEW SESSION ON JANUARY 12TH. TOMORROW, TWO I WILL BE HONORED FOR MAKING LIFE-SAVING ORGAN DONATIONS IN THE ROSE PARADE IN PASADENA, CALIFORNIA. APRIL WILSON OF DENVER AND NATALIE MCCLEARY OF FRUITLAND WILL BE RECOGNIZED ON THE 2026 ONE LEGACY. DONATE LIFE FLOAT. WILSON WILL BE RECOGNIZED AS A TWO TIME LIVING DONOR AND WILL WALK ALONGSIDE THE FLOAT. MCCLEARY WILL BE HONORED WITH A FLORAL PORTRAIT ON THE FLOAT. SHE DIED IN 2022 AFTER BATTLING DEPRESSION. HER ORGANS SAVED SIX LIVES. MCCREARY’S, MCCLEARY’S BROTHER, TELLS US WHAT BEING ABLE TO SAVE LIVES WOULD MEAN TO HIS SISTER, AND WILSON SHARED WHAT SHE HOPES PEOPLE WILL GET FROM THE STORIES AND FACES SEEN ON THE FLOAT. SHE WAS ABLE TO KNOW THAT I THINK IT WOULD BE AN INCREDIBLE HONOR TO HER. I KNOW THAT LIKE BEING ABLE TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE OUT WAS ALWAYS A BIG DEAL TO HER. THE RECIPIENTS, SOME OF THEM WERE DOING DIALYSIS DAYS, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL DAYS A WEEK FOR SEVERAL HOURS. SOME WERE LITERALLY HANGING ON BY MACHINES BEFORE THEY GOT THEIR TRANSPLANT. SO YOUR CHOICE TO BECOME AN ORGAN DONOR, IT JUST IT CHANGES LIVES. THAT PARADE STEPS OFF TOMORROW MORNING AT 10:00. IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS OR THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE, HELP IS AVAILABLE BY CAL
Iowans honored for organ donations at New Year’s Day Rose Parade
Updated: 10:44 AM CST Jan 1, 2026
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Iowans April Wilson of Denver and Natalie McCleary of Fruitland will be honored for their life-saving organ donations at the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, on Jan. 1.Wilson will be recognized as a two-time living donor and will walk alongside the 2026 One-Legacy Donate Life float. McCleary, who died in 2022 after battling depression, will be honored with a floral portrait on the float, and her organ donations saved six lives.Noah McCleary, Natalie’s brother, said, “If she was able to know that, I think it would be an incredible honor to her. I know that being able to help people out was always a big deal for her.”April Wilson shared her perspective on the impact of organ donation, saying, “The recipients, some of them are doing dialysis several days a week for several hours. Some were literally hanging by machines before they got their transplant. So your choice to become an organ donor, it just changes lives.” The parade was scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday.If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or thoughts of suicide, help is available by calling or texting the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.» Subscribe to KCCI’s YouTube page» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play
PASADENA, Calif. —
Iowans April Wilson of Denver and Natalie McCleary of Fruitland will be honored for their life-saving organ donations at the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, on Jan. 1.
Wilson will be recognized as a two-time living donor and will walk alongside the 2026 One-Legacy Donate Life float. McCleary, who died in 2022 after battling depression, will be honored with a floral portrait on the float, and her organ donations saved six lives.
Noah McCleary, Natalie’s brother, said, “If she was able to know that, I think it would be an incredible honor to her. I know that being able to help people out was always a big deal for her.”
April Wilson shared her perspective on the impact of organ donation, saying, “The recipients, some of them are doing dialysis several days a week for several hours. Some were literally hanging by machines before they got their transplant. So your choice to become an organ donor, it just changes lives.”
The parade was scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or thoughts of suicide, help is available by calling or texting the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
» Subscribe to KCCI’s YouTube page
» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play
