Young Heart-Disease Survivor Will Ride Float in 127th Rose Parade
PASADENA (CBSLA.com) — An 11-year-old girl born with a heart defect will be featured on one of the floats in the 127th Rose Parade in Pasadena on New Year's Day.
Kaelyn Kaelyn will serve as a 'Heart Champion' for the 'Union of Hearts' float, which will feature two giant heart mascots to be adorned with more than 31,000 flowers.
"I am really excited because it's my first time," Kaelayn said. In her 11-year life span, she has had three open-heart surgeries, a pace maker, a stroke and a heart transplant.
And her struggles are far from over. "At some point, she will require another heart transplant," said Kaelyn's mother Jolanda Graham.
Joining her on the float is former San Francisco 49er and four-time Super Bowl champion Jesse Sapolu, who played his entire career with an enlarged heart.
He said he is lucky to be alive. "I've been part of parades from winning Super Bowls where millions of people are out there," Sapolu said. "But this is a little different for me because of the cause. "It'll be an honor. Sometimes I will be emotional."
Forty heart disease and stroke survivors will either ride or walk alongside the 'Union of Hearts' float, which will be accompanied by the song - 'Stay Alive' – throughout the parade.
Kaelyn's mother refers to her daughter as her 'miracle child.' "Seeing Kaelyn every morning getting out of bed is a blessing for us because we already know we're already on our second chance. To see her on this float in this capacity, my heart is just overwhelmed," Jolanda said.
Union Bank and the American Heart Association are sponsoring the float to promote health, hope and awareness.
