Chepachet Flower Shops

Chepachet RI News

Nov 15, 2018

Young RI organ donor's image will be part of Rose Parade float

Brayden Tellier, who was 3 when his brother died, put the finishing touches on Evan's image at a ceremony Saturday at the Pinewood Pub & Pizza in Chepachet as dozens of family members and supporters looked on. They filled in the eyebrows of the image made of all-natural ingredients, such as seed, spices and sand, with coffee grounds to make them a rich brown.Evan was selected to be honored with an appearance on float in the nationally televised parade due to the hours his mother has dedicated to New England Donor Services since the tragedy and the depth of Evan's gift to others, according to Kelly Green, manager of after-care services at the Waltham, Massachusetts-based organization. He is the first Rhode Island donor to be selected."A young boy who can give life to so many at such a young age," Green said.Two volunteer artists in California made Evan's image based on a photograph of him playing in the leaves. It was then flown to Rhode Island for Rogers and Brayden to complete. It will be returned to California, where it will be affixed to the 2019 Donate Life float, whose theme is Rhythm of the Heart. Living donors who have given organs will be seated on the float or walk alongside it during the parade.New England Donor Services will also pay to fly Rogers and Brayden to Pasadena, where they will help finish the float by adorning it with live flowers, Green said."The reason we do this is that it's another opportunity to spread the word about donations," Green said, adding, "I feel like donating gives a glimmer of hope in a very dark hour."Evan died at UMass Memorial Medical Center, in Worcester, of injuries he suffered in a crash on the Massachusetts Turnpike on Aug. 20, 2009. His father, Joseph E. Tellier, who was at the wheel and partially ejected, was also injured in the crash.Evan's heart went to an 8-year-old girl; one cornea went to a 16-year-old in California and the other to a 62-year-old Massachusetts man. His kidneys benefited two men, ages 23 and 47."It was a really important decision we made when he passed," she added. "Evan was a very caring and loving child. He'd be pleased."Rogersr described Evan as an "odd duck" with a taste for meatloaf as well as sushi."He was just, happy, fun-loving," she said, as Brayden l...