Mercy patient rides float in Rose Parade

Published January 12, 2017

A Mercy Hospital Fort Smith patient was honored during the Jan. 2 Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif. After Trenton Williams’ death in 2012 he donated his kidney and liver to Ken Howard.

Howard, his daughter and son-in-law joined the Williams family at Mercy Hospital Fort Smith in November for a celebration and ceremony to bring awareness to the importance of organ donation.

Howard was among two dozen organ recipients to ride on the Donate Life float in the Rose Parade. His trip was paid in part by Trenton’s Legacy, a foundation that Williams’ mother, Jeri, started to help organ donor recipients and raise awareness about organ donation.

In addition, the float carried a portrait of Trenton Williams known as a “floragraph,” which was made entirely of natural materials, including grains, rice, spices and seeds.

Also attending the November ceremony to decorate Trenton’s floragraph was Keith Griffis, a former intensive care unit nurse who received Trenton’s second kidney.