Auburn resident starts new year honoring kidney donor, starting advocacy partnership

The Rose Parade in Pasadena is known for being a New Year celebration, but for Auburn resident Valen Keefer, it means much more. Keefer, who was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease at the age of 10 and is a double transplant recipient, will have 20 roses on the Donate Life Rose Parade float in honor of her living donor, Sally Robertson, in celebration of their 20-year kidney transplant anniversary. Keefer, now 38, said she met Robertson when she was in the eighth grade and was friends with Robertson's daughter. "Going through the ups and downs of life and have her be supportive, it's an incredible thing. I'm grateful to have her in my life," Keefer said of Robertson, noting she strives to show Robertson how much she cares and appreciates the second chance Robertson's donation provided. The Donate Life float features Venetian colonnades inspired by the Palazzo Ducale in Venice and has a winged lion holding a book to represent the knowledge donor families and recipients share of the importance of donation. Tom Mone, CEO of OneLegacy, said there are 6-8 rose pods, including Keefer's, on the float with personal dedicated messages. According to a Thermo Fisher Scientific news release, Keefer's dedication message will contain: "Your courage and gift of life has given me endless hope." Mone said the float's theme of Courage to Hope ties in with the transplant community, as recipients must have courage and hope while awaiting a transplant, as well as the courage of donors and donor families to recognize there is hope for someone else. Keefer, who also rode the Donate Life float in 2011, was not able to place her roses in person due to the pandemic and being immunocompromised. As a result, employees from Thermo Fisher Scientific placed the roses on Keefer's behalf Tuesday. "It means so much that Thermo Fisher placed 20 roses on my behalf to help honor my kidney donor and support organ donation," Keefer said. "I can't wait to watch the float on New Year's Day knowing that 20 of those roses are dedicated to and honoring my donor." Nicole Brockway, president of transplant diagnostics with Thermo Fisher, said of Keefer, "We're just so humbled and proud to support her and have the opportunity to support her with the placement of the roses." But that's not where the partnership ends. Keefer has joined Thermo Fisher as a patient advocacy consultant for the transplant diagnostics business. Brockway said the position is a new role and will entail Keefer communicating to the broader community to educate, increase awareness and improve the outcome of how Thermo Fisher can help patients. "I knew that she could have a powerful impact with Thermo Fisher in addition to what she is already doing. … It's just a perfect match for both of us," Brockway said. Keefer said she aims to express appreciation for her donation through action by showing how transformational transplantation can be, setting an example of a fulfilling life post-transplant and encouraging others to say yes and receive a second chance. According to her biography, Keefer has worked to raise awareness, educate and give hope to others in chronic kidney disease, organ transplant communities and those who have walked a similar path over the past 17 years. Said Keefer about the partnership, "This is an exciting next step to be able to do more for the transplant community. It's really exciting for me to think of the partnership and how we'll work together to improve the quality of life for transplant patients and their families." Keefer said she is excited to use her experiences to amplify patients' voices to ensure they are at the center of conversations. Keefer thinks the partnership will be impactful, take her advocacy to new heights and is an exciting way to kick off the new year. "I learned through my health journey that perspective is everything," she said. "We can't wait until life's challenges go away and decide to be happy. It is important we find joy in every day. I feel the same with COVID and the pandemic. I am so grateful that despite how I have had to live quite secluded, because of having a suppressed immune system, that I have been able to focus on such positive and meaningful work, which continues to bring joy and purpose to each day. The world needs hope and inspiration now more than ever, and I hope my story of second chances, resilience, kindness and that life is worth fighting for helps inspire many as we kick off a new year." According to the Tournament of Roses website, the Rose Parade will be broadcast at 8 a.m. Saturday on ABC, Hallmark Channel, KTLA5, NBC, RFD TV and Univision. To learn more about Keefer and her journey, visit valenkeefer.com.