MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – A Moncks Corner organ donor will be honored in January during one of the most widely watched parades in the country for giving the gift of life. Craig Owens lost his life earlier this year as a result of a brain aneurysm. However, his memory lives on through his family and organ recipient.
We Are Sharing Hope SC along with Donate Life South Carolina will honor Owens during the 2020 Rose Parade® by representing him with a “floragraph,” an artistic floral portrait on the Donate Life float that is themed “Light in The Darkness.”
On Nov. 27, family and friends came together during a special ceremony to to finish Owens’ floragraph at Mt. Carmel AME Church in Moncks Corner.
The opportunity to commemorate Craig’s gift of life was made possible by a grant from Bridge to Life, a biotechnology company based in Columbia and dedicated to advancing the science of organ procurement and preservation.
Moncks Corner Organ Donor: Who Was Craig Owens
Craig Owens was a dedicated, loving and devoted son, father and husband. He lived his life the best way he knew how and was employed at Santee Cooper Power Company until his retirement.
His friends and family describe him as a caring person who would do anything for anyone he met. He would give his absolute best in everything he did. Despite being a giant in stature, he had a soft-spoken voice and a
kindred spirit.
Craig’s passion was through his love for video games. He became a dedicated master of gaming in his retirement. He loved all things technological and had a passion for the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys were a true part of his heart and personality.
Craig’s health became a concern in recent years. His battle with blood
pressure and diabetes was something lived with daily, but he worked hard to try and overcome. He had good and bad days, but Craig never let his health issues stop his dedication to his family and friends.
Craig’s death came as a shock to his family. On January 6, 2019 Craig became suddenly ill. A normal day turned into what his loved ones describe as a nightmare. He fought his best and hardest to recover.
On January 8, 2019, Craig answered the Master’s call and gained his wings. He left behind a loving family that was not ready to see him go.
Craig’s family has found solace in knowing that he lives on through his gift of life. His friends and family are thankful to know that he is a donor hero and was able to contribute to the life of others. The Owens family is eternally grateful for the continued support and prayers they have received in honor of Craig, his life, and legacy.
Honoring His Memory
Owens will be honored along with 43 other donor heroes from across the country on the 2020 Donate Life Rose Parade® Float. Celebrating its 17th year, the Donate Life Rose Parade® Float continues its mission to save and heal lives by sharing the gift of life and delivering the message of organ, eye and tissue donation to the world.
It has become the world’s most visible and inspiring campaign for organ, eye, and tissue donation. Each year, families of deceased donors are honored to see their loved ones’ floragraph, or floral image, highlighted as part of the float. Living donors and recipients bring the float to life by riding or walking beside the float.
Float entries in the Rose Parade® must complement its theme. This year’s parade theme, The Power of Hope, honors the opportunity to look beyond challenges of the moment and light a path to a brighter future. The 2020 Donate Life Rose Parade® float, Light in the Darkness, shares the Power of Hope by highlighting Southeast Asia’s Diwali, or the Festival of Lights, a celebration of light shining in darkness. Organ, eye, and tissue donation is often the first spark of light families see when in their darkest of moments, the opportunity to honor their loved ones’ legacy provides hope and light to both grieving donor families and grateful recipients
“We are immensely grateful for Craig’s selfless gift of life. In this season of giving thanks, it is a great privilege to pay this special tribute to Craig,” states Aaron Gilchrist, Global Sales Director at Bridge to Life, Ltd. “He is truly a hero. We hope that by honoring Craig’s story as part of the Donate Life float in the Rose Parade®, his legacy will live on and others will be inspired to register as organ, eye and tissue donors.”
What The Float Looks Like
The front of the float features colorful rangoli, intricate circular designs made of rice and flowers, created to adorn the entrance of a home. These rangoli will house thousands of individually dedicated roses to honor donors, their families, transplant recipients, candidates waiting for transplant and those who died waiting. Each dedicated rose is placed in a vial that carries a unique, personal message of love, hope and remembrance. In fact, numerous South Carolina hospital CEOs have dedicated rose vials in honor of those touched by donation at their hospitals.
“Being a part of this national representation of the gift of life is an honor and we’re so proud to be able to share Craig’s story with the world. We know that Craig was a giver in life and through organ donation, he will continue to be a hero,” states David DeStefano, CEO and President of We Are Sharing Hope SC, the federal designated Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) for South Carolina. “Through Shana, his wife, and events like the Donate Life Rose Parade float, Craig’s legacy will continue for years.”
The 2020 Rose Parade will be at 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM on Wednesday, Jan. 1.
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