A David City, Nebraska couple will be part of the crowd watching the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California on New Year's Day. They lost their loved one, but through that death another life was saved.

"We would go to the Ronald McDonald House, get some sleep and then it was just enough 'til the next day you would cry even more,” says Janet Bemis.

Twenty-four years ago, Janet and Milt Bemis made a decision. Their 2-year-old son Matthew was near death in the hospital after falling into a lake. On the third day, they made a decision in the hospital.

"Janet was holding Matthew, rocking back and forth, she looked up at me and stopped and said, ‘I wonder if we could…’ and I said donate and she said, yeah," says Milt.

What followed in 1984 was the first liver transplant in Nebraska. The recipient, 14-month-old Lily Mandel, was near death with a liver full of tumors. Janet learned of the successful transplant watching the news on TV.

"I looked at her and thought my gosh, her mom is watching her child die just like I watched my child die and because of our son, hopefully she was going to be okay."

Not only is Lily Mandel okay, she was married this fall at age 25 in Syracuse, New York. Milt and Janet were on hand.

Lily spoke of their close relationship. “They're just absolutely wonderful people, they donated. It's hard for me to believe that it's me, it's a whole 'nother lifetime away. I can't believe I was that sick."

That transplant miracle will be featured in the upcoming Rose Bowl parade along with many others. Lily will ride a float with the message Donate Life, a float that will include a picture of Matthew. Milt and Janet will be part of the celebration.

“They have a special place for donor families to sit and we're going to be waving hard," says Milt. "It's going to be a wonderful time. We're looking forward to seeing Lily on the float.”

Every 13 minutes, a new name is added to the national transplant waiting list. Click here to sign up to be an organ donor.