Ricky Oropeza

Type of Donation:       Heart Recipient

Age and Location:      52

Donation Date:           October 2022

Sponsor:                      Honored by Thermo Fisher Scientific

RICKY’S STORY

Ricky Oropeza, 52, is a heart transplant recipient, former business owner and father of three from Puerto Rico. His heart problems began in 2012, and Ricky was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in 2014. His health and personal life took a turn for the worse—he knew he needed to fight to stay alive, but he was watching his family fall apart. In 2018, Ricky went into cardiac arrest and was listed for transplant. He received the gift of life on October 8, 2022. Known as “the man who walks the hallways listening to salsa music,” Ricky is now mentoring other transplant patients and families as the navigate their own challenges along the transplant journey. Ricky would like to thank his donor family and the plethora of others that have helped him along the way. He hopes that by riding the Donate Life Rose Parade float, donor families can take comfort in knowing their gift saves lives.