AVMC and OneLegacy Unite to Honor the Gift of Life Through Rose Dedication

LANCASTER, CA – November 26, 2024) – Antelope Valley Medical Center (AVMC) and OneLegacy, the organ, eye and tissue recovery organization, recently united to share in the tradition of honoring families of AVMC organ and tissue donors with a Rose Dedication.  

The CEO Rose Dedication is a ceremony when the hospital’s leadership team dedicates a rose to donors from Antelope Valley Medical Center, the care teams that make donation possible, and the collective effort to save and heal lives through donation. These roses are then placed in the Dedication Garden on the completed OneLegacy Float.

“This ceremony honors the selfless heroes who give the gift of life, and we are proud to support this meaningful and vital mission”, said Edward Mirzabegian, AVMC Chief Executive Officer. “We also thank the families for their trust during this very difficult time and recognize the profound impact they have on countless lives.”

This year, we’re honored to have Jessica Horton, an AVMC Respiratory Therapist ride in the 2025 OneLegacy float.  Jessica was born with congenital glaucoma, which by the time she was 11 months old, was blind in her left eye, ultimately requiring a prosthetic. In the meantime, her right eye was becoming more and more damaged. By the time Jessica was 29 years old her right cornea was so scarred, only a corneal transplant would save her sight.  Jessica stated: “My gift has allowed me to continue working as a respiratory therapist & have a happy healthy family. I am so grateful to my donor and their family who selflessly gave me the gift of sight.” Jessica now volunteers as one of OneLegacy's Ambassadors and is a wonderful advocate for donation and transplantation.

The 2025 Rose Parade® theme, Best Day Ever, celebrates life’s best moments – those unexpected times that bring a smile, warm our hearts and fill us with joy.

For more information on becoming a donor, visit www.OneLegacy.org/register.

Photo caption: (l to r) Jessica Horton, AVMC Respiratory Therapist, Edward Mirzabegian, AVMC CEO, and Lauren Solis, Program Manager, OneLegacy during the Rose Dedication ceremony.

About Antelope Valley Medical Center

Antelope Valley Medical Center (AVMC), the only full-service, acute-care hospital located in Lancaster, CA. AVMC has been delivering exceptional care to the community since 1955.  It offers the region’s only Level II Trauma Center, Pediatric unit, Level IIIB NICU, Inpatient Behavioral Health Department, Labor and Delivery, Accredited Chest Pain Center/STEMI Receiving Center, Comprehensive Stroke Center, a Comprehensive Community Cancer Center, and a Thrombectomy Capable Center.  More information is available at www.avmc.org or by calling (661) 949-5000. Follow us @avmedicalcenter