1/2/2007 4:40:00 PM Native American rides in Rose Bowl parade to honor brother's memory
Julio Jara (at left) puts his arm around Camille Nighthorse during an emotional first-time meeting. Jara, from Los Angeles, was the recipient of a donor heart from Nighthorse’s brother, Wabeyuma Walker, who was tragically killed in Long Beach, Calif. (Photo courtesy of DNA)
Submitted by the Donor Network of Arizona Special to the Observer
PASADENA, Calif.-On Jan. 1, Camille Nighthorse of Cave Creek rode on the Donate Life float in the Tournament of Roses Parade, along with 22 other living donors and donor family members. They gave the ultimate gift - the gift of life - and now they will encourage millions worldwide to follow their example.
The float's theme, "Giving From The Heart," was meant to inspire people to save lives as organ, tissue, and blood donors. The Donor Network of Arizona sponsored Nighthorse, a mother of eight, who gives educational presentations at area high schools on behalf of the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising.
Nighthorse's brother, 31-year-old Wabeyuma Walker, was the victim of a stabbing while waiting for a bus in Long Beach, Calif. on Feb. 9, 2004. Nighthorse drove from Phoenix with their mother and her husband to see him in the hospital, not knowing the seriousness of his condition.
Upon arriving at his room in St. Mary's Hospital, they were stunned to see him on life support. "It didn't seem real," says Nighthorse. "I gently touched his face as I spoke, letting him know we were there. We noticed a tear roll down from his eye. His other side was covered with a large bandage.
"We began to realize the seriousness of his injury and anticipated the worst. Early the next morning, as I touched his arm and spoke to him, my mom and I felt his spirit leaving us for the Spirit World."
Shortly after, the doctor told Nighthorse and her mother what they already knew. Wabeyuma had no brain activity.
"Without thinking, I simply asked, 'How can we donate his heart?'" recalls Nighthorse. "Surprising myself, I felt like my brother had put the idea in my head. I turned to my mom for her response. We both felt this is what my brother wanted; to save someone else's life even though someone took his. It felt so natural, we never questioned this decision."
"Being in tune with Wabeyuma's spirit helped me move on. He would be saving more than one life and it has given us comfort that others can enjoy extended lives with their families. Transplant is a wonderful blessing. It really blessed our lives and helped us go through the mourning process quicker."
With the hope of one day meeting Wabeyuma's heart recipient, Nighthorse's prayers were answered. The day after Thanksgiving in 2005, Julio Jara and his family from Los Angeles met with Nighthorse and her family in Phoenix.
"My brother always had a humble spirit and a great heart. It brings me great joy to know that his heart lives on and that because of him, Julio now lives a healthier life and is there for his family. My brother, [who is] from the Hualapai and Hopi tribes of Arizona, became our hero. His death did have a purpose - giving life to others."
According to the Donor Network of Arizona, as of Dec. 22, there were 94,675 people in the United States waiting for an organ with 1,372 waiting in Arizona alone. The number of Native Americans in Arizona waiting for a transplant was 163, or 11.9 percent of the people in Arizona.
The 2007 Donate Life parade float marks the fourth appearance of the donation and transplant community. For information about the float, visit the official float website at www.donatelifefloat.org. For information on how to become an organ, tissue or blood donor, visit www.DonateLifeAZ.org.
