Rose Parade TV special to honor Francine Salazar, the 10-year-old Visalia girl who died in a 2019 car crash

Hanah Salazar pictures her 10-year-old daughter in heaven, thanking her mother for donating her organs and helping others survive. 

Her daughter, Francine Salazar, saved at least four lives after she died due to an August 2019 car crash: Three children received her heart and kidneys, and a 40-year-old woman received her pancreas, Salazar said.

“I knew we made the right decision,” Salazar said, “and know she is very happy in heaven. She is rejoicing about our decision to donate her organs.”

Now Francine along with 20 other deceased organ donors from across the U.S. will be honored by Donate Life America on New Year’s Day during a special 2021 Rose Parade televised event. 

Donate Life built a 25-foot floral sculpture that memorializes each donor and honors donation health care professionals. The sculpture will be featured at Tournament House in Pasadena because the 2021 Rose Parade was canceled due to COVID-19. The TV special on Friday will include pre-taped performances, appearances and stories about the sculpture. 

Salazar is traveling from Visalia to Pasadena to see her daughter’s floragraph, a decorated photograph on the sculpture. 

“I miss her every day,” Salazar said, “and I am humbled that Francine was chosen as a floragraph honoree.”

The ‘painful’ decision 

Francine died three days after an SUV driver traveling 60 miles per hour flew past a stop sign at a rural intersection between Tulare and Visalia and slammed into the passenger side of Salazar’s minivan on Aug. 7. 

She had been traveling with her four siblings and mother before her Aug. 10 death. 

Doctors exhausted all tests on Francine but found no brain activity, according to Salazar. 

Being a nurse herself, Salazar understood the “gravity of Francine’s injuries,” she said. 

Though it was “very painful,” Salazar approached medical professionals about donating Francine’s organs. 

In Tulare County, 364 people are waiting for organs as of Nov. 30, according to Donor Network West. 

When an organ match isn’t found in-state, organs then get offered regionally and elsewhere, if need be. 

Those who received Francine’s organs live in the Central Valley and in Virginia, according to Salazar.  

“We wanted to donate her organs to help other kids,” she explained, “to help them continue to make more memories with their families.”

Helping others after death  

Based on Francine’s personality, Salazar believes her daughter would have supported the organ donation. 

“Francine is a generous, loving kid,” Salazar explained. “She always helps people. I know in my heart she would be super happy and proud.”

Salazar grew up in the Philippines hearing many false rumors about organ donation, such as bodies being violated posthumously. 

“In the Philippines, organ donation is a little bit taboo,” she said. “(Healthcare professionals) don’t violate your loved one’s body.” 

Medical professionals explained every step of the donation process, according to Salazar.

“Their goal is to give a generous life to other people,” Salazar explained. “They are very supportive.”

“They handle (the body) with care and love,” she added. 

Shortly after her death, Salazar discovered a TikTok account where Francine recorded dancing videos. Francine often danced and sang to Korean pop bands BTS, Blackpink, and EXO.

“I like to believe these were her gifts to me to remind me of the happy life she enjoyed on earth,” Salazar said. 

Contact education reporter Kristan Obeng at KObeng@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @KrissyObeng.

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