By Elaine Swisher, Lawrence Memorial Hospital
April is the 12th annual National Donate Life Month. Originally a weeklong observance, it was officially recognized as a month-long event in 2003. The celebration commemorates those who have received or continue to wait for lifesaving transplants, and honors the heroes that have given the gift of life as organ, eye and tissue donors.
Lawrence Memorial Hospital is dedicated to increasing awaren
ess and providing education to our community. If you’ve been to LMH in the past couple of weeks, you will note our green ribbons and bows at our entrances. Green is the color of life.
“This month serves, not only to honor the lives of those who have given and received, it is also an opportunity to renew our commitment to saving lives, and increase awareness for the gift of organ and tissue donation,” said Rob Linderer, CEO of Midwest Transplant Network.
On April 24, Midwest Transplant Network staff will present a two-hour education on donation from 1 to 3 p.m. in the LMH auditorium. The public is welcome to attend both events.Because of one organ donor and 15 tissue donors at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in 2014, more than 750 lives were touched. To honor our donor heroes, Lawrence Memorial Hospital CEO Gene Meyer will be turning the fountain green near the cafeteria on April 23. Additionally, Midwest Transplant Network, with Saving Sight, will be hosting an informational booth that day to answer questions about donation outside the cafeteria from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
You can register to be a donor today at YesTheyWantMe.com and givehope to the more than 124,000 people waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant.
Elaine Swisher, RN, MHCL, CEN is the Emergency Department Clinical Coordinator at Lawrence Memorial Hospital and is the Donate Life chairperson for LMH. LMH is a major sponsor of WellCommons
