Mike James loved life and helping people. He served in the U.S. Army at several bases before joining the police force in Prince George County, Md. and later Phoenix City, Ala. In 1991, Mike watched his own son Michael die from an auto accident, and it upset him that Michael's organs couldn't be used to save someone else's life. In February 1993, at the age of 47, Mike suffered an aneurysm that led to a car accident; he was later pronounced brain dead. Knowing Mike's wishes made it easy for his family to donate his tissue and organs, among them his liver, which went to 2014 Donate Life Rose Parade float rider Amy Tippins.

Mike's Story

Mike James loved life and helping people. He cared deeply for his country, his home, and family and friends. He served his country in the U.S. Army in Turkey, Japan and several U.S. bases. After his discharge, he joined the Prince George County police force in Maryland, where he was honored with the key to the city for saving a family from a fire.

In 1991, his son Michael passed away in an auto accident. Pronounced dead at the scene, it was impossible to donate his organs. Mike expressed his grief that Michael's organs couldn't be used to save the life of someone else.

On February 19, 1993, Mike had an aneurysm that led to a car accident. He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced brain dead. Knowing Mike's wishes to donate his son's organs made it easy for his family to donate his tissue and organs.

"I am very grateful that I was allowed to sit in on the process," said his sister Jo West. "The LifeLink of Georgia staff was very good at explaining organ transplantation. We agreed to donate everything except his corneas."

Mike's family began receiving letters from LifeLink that offered some details about each recipient and that person's outcome. "It was an amazing feeling to realize how many people had a new lease on life because of Mike," Jo said. "What an awesome God we have to allow such technology to not only help someone else, but to give our family a special gift despite losing him."

In 2010, something "awesome" happened: Amy Tippins, who had received Mike's liver when she was 17, made contact with Mike's family. Two years later, Jo and her husband met Amy, 19 years after Mike's gift of life.

"What a special reunion and gift. In 2013, our family from Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida came together with Amy's family and friends for her 20th celebration of life and to celebrate both Amy and Mike," Jo recalled.

They will have another reunion on New Year's Day when Amy rides the float beside Mike's portrait.

"Amy and I have a special bond," added Jo. "The closeness I feel when we are together I cannot explain, but I feel she is my sister and I want her to be a part of my life."