By Dave D'Marko, Reporter | News 13
A young Oviedo woman's life will be celebrated at this year's Tournament of Roses Parade.
There was a marching band and roses -- two things that have made Pasadena's Rose Parade famous for more than 100 years.
But at Oviedo High School Saturday amidst the cheers, there were tears for a coach who will be honored at this year's parade, who died at the age of 22.
Cora Hill cheered herself but had to give it up as she battled with Cystic Fybrosis.
By late 2007 she was in intensive care, when an organ donor gave her new lungs and new life on Christmas Eve.
"A special spirit came out in my daughter when she got that gift. She was never the same emotionally, spiritually again," said Cora's mother, Dee Hill.
Cora coached with Oviedo's Pop Warner cheerleaders the next two years. Though, by the end she often went straight from the sideline back to the hospital.
"Whenever there's a paper we have to write about a hero or anything, she's the first one who comes to all of our minds," said cheerleader Julianna Voyles.
"She kept on living even though she was struggling. She put a smile on her face and she puts a smile on my face all the time," said cheerleader Christina Pantoliano.
On Christmas Eve 2009, she passed away, but had asked her family to return the gift of life.
Her kidneys saved two lives.
The group Donate Life heard her story and asked her family to feature her on their float this year at the Rose Parade.
"I hope for Cora we did her proud. She was very passionate about educating others about donation and we hope that we were able to touch a lot of hearts today in her honor," said Lesley McMillen with Trans Life.
Cora's family got to put the finishing touches on the floragraph America will see, appropriately it's made of seeds.
"The birth and rebirth of Cora on Christmas Eve is a miracle and then she gave those gifts to two people. I'll be thinking of them I'll be thinking of my daughter I'll be thinking of the real meaning of Christmas -- the gift of life," Dee Hill said.
The floragraph now heads to Pasadena, where it will be joined with about 60 other faces on the float.
At least 100,000 people are currently waiting for organ donations, countless more for tissue.
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