John Boling, Kaylinn Boling’s father, works on his daughter’s floragraph Nov. 20, 2024.
Photo by Jessica Garcia.
Family and friends gathered Nov. 20 at Carson City’s Plaza Conference Center to honor the life of Kaylinn Boling of Carson City with a ceremony to recognize her impact on more 80 people within the United States and internationally through tissue donation.
Boling, 23, died in a car crash in March 2019 on Interstate 580 south of the Galena Bridge near the Bowers Mansion exit.
The Nevada Donor Network hosted a floragraph ceremony at which her parents, John and Jodi Boling, family members and friends could complete the artwork that will be displayed on the 2025 OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade float on Jan. 1 in Pasadena, Calif.
“It’s pretty amazing,” Jodi Boling said. “We know she lives on, it gives us a little bit of comfort. You can save people’s lives and it just changes their life.”
Kaylinn Boling was the oldest of three siblings and had a son who is now 11. She was described as outgoing, a natural caregiver and passionate about photography.
Nevada Donor Network, a federally designated 501(c) nonprofit, coordinates tissue and cornea donation and has provided services to more than 3 million people within the state. One donor can assist up to eight lives through organ donation, up to 75 lives through tissue donation and help restore sight for two through cornea donation.
Christopher Johns, senior director of tissue operations for Nevada Donor Network, shared the OneLegacy Donate Life float in the 2025 Rose Parade, the theme of which will be “Best Day Ever,” will be a colorful scene inspired by the Japanese celebration of Children’s Day. The float will feature koi fish scales highlighting the memorial floragraph portraits of organ, tissue and eye donors.
Jodi Boling said she was not surprised when she got the call that Kaylinn was a donor. Her parents wanted to honor her wish through her donation.
“From the time she was a small child, she loved helping people,” she said. “She wanted to be the mom to her siblings. It’s just what she did, you know, taking care of the elderly, taking care of the disabled, taking care of just anybody.”
Local partners were present for the floragraph ceremony, including the Nevada State Police and the Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office who provided services to the Bolings in their loss. Acknowledgements also were expressed to FitzHenry’s Funeral Home.
Carson City Mayor Lori Bagwell also proclaimed Nov. 20 on behalf of the Board of Supervisors as Kaylinn Boling Donor Hero Day.
Nevada Highway Patrol Lt. Andrew Granata and Trooper Brian Green were dispatched to the call and reflected on the organizations who joined for the Bolings, whom he called resilient after their loss.
“Our mission (to preserve life) was tested in an immeasurable way in the face of tragedy, and our highest priority became restoring humanity and dignity together with professionalism and with all the first responders on scene: the Washoe County Sheriff's Office, the Nevada Department of Transportation, and a few others,” Granata said. “We worked tirelessly to gather information and to honor everyone that was affected from this tragedy.”
The floragraph was created by Kim Payne. Floragraphs are portraits created out of seeds and spices to honor someone, and the tradition by the Nevada Donor Network has continued for years, according to Monica Myles, NDN community development manager. The choice for honorees is always difficult, she said.
“I always say I feel like all of our donors are heroes,” she said. “They all have a story, they all deserve to be honored on the float. … But what we loved about Kaylinn’s story was just that she was a registered donor and, unfortunately, she was taken so tragically, so young at just 23. But we felt that her spirit of generosity was so strong, and then her family also supporting her wish to be a donor.”
While often the process of donating is complex, she said, the collaboration with local agencies is essential for families and brings comfort to them and donation recipients.
“Organ and tissue donation saves lives and improves the lives of people who need healing,” Myles said. “There are more than 100,000 people waiting for an organ transplant in the United States right now. So every time somebody registers as an organ donor, we're giving hope to those in need. I think it's just such a beautiful and generous act, and I encourage anyone who feels inspired by Kaylinn's story to make that choice.”
Myles encouraged the community to watch the 136th Rose Parade on Jan. 1 for the floragraph that will be placed on the OneLegacy Donate Life float.