Many Donate Life flag raising ceremonies are often held by hospitals, funeral homes, businesses and other community partners during National Donate Life Month. This month-long celebration in April honors the generosity of organ, eye and tissue donors and their families and commemorates all transplant recipients and those still waiting for a life-saving transplant. Attend and Celebrate National Donate Life Month with a Flag Raising Ceremony Thank you to our over 3.8 million neighbors who have officially checked the box “YES” to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor. Make it a personal mission to speak to at least one person about organ, eye and tissue donation.If you haven’t already, register as an organ, eye and tissue donor at the DMV or online.For many, it is their own chance at more life and more time. Nearly 3,000 of them are waiting right here in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Today, we are reminded there are currently over 100,000 men, women and children waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. What is the easiest way you can show your support? Oftentimes, someone from the hospital’s chaplaincy, or the family’s faith leader, will say a few words. Also, the incredible staff members from the hospital and the LifeSource team may share a few words to honor the legacy of the donor and their grieving family’s strength. After the 24 hours, chaplaincy lowers the flag and may mail it to the family as a keepsake. After the remarks, the family takes the Donate Life flag down to the hospital’s flagpole with chaplaincy.Įach ceremony is unique to the attendees and hospital, but the display of honor and support for donation and transplantation remains the same across the country. Family, friends and community members of the donor are invited to attend the ceremony. These ceremonies also allow families to connect with their healthcare team that were caring for their loved one prior to and during the donation process. For example, they may drape the Donate Life flag across the donor with family gathered at bedside and say a few words. “That donation really is a symbol of love.In our region, many of our hospital partners use the Donate Life Flag as the main way to honor donors. “It’s not a coincidence to me that when you sign-up to be an organ donor you get a heart added to your driver’s license,” Bruno said. By registering to be a deceased donor, a person can save up to eight lives by way of organ donation. “All of us are called to care for one another and are interconnected as part of the science of our galaxy and the globe that we inhabit.”ĭuring her visit, First Lady Youngkin also received a tour of the clinic where the majority of Hume-Lee's patients are seen before, during and after their organ transplant journey.Īccording to Donate Life America, more than 100,000 people are awaiting organ transplants in the United States, including about 3,000 Virginians. “I am honored and humbled to attend this important day,” she said. This imagery was noted by the First Lady of Virginia, Suzanne S. They symbolize the sky, earth and circle of life, as organ donations are a selfless gift. These colors are prominently displayed throughout National Donate Life Month by Donate Life America. “I thought about how the best golfer wears green in the Masters, but in the instance of Hume-Lee, we wear green because we’re masters in taking care of our transplant patients,” said Michael Roussos, president of VCU Medical Center. (VCU Enterprise Marketing and Communications)Īmong the sea of blue and green were some familiar faces, including Hume-Lee’s interim chair, David Bruno, M.D., many of the transplant center’s team members and VCU Dogs on Call therapy dog program. Youngkin, Seung Duk Lee, M.D., and Vinay Kumaran, M.D. From left to right: David Bruno, M.D., Amit Sharma, M.D., Adrian Cotterell, M.D., the First Lady of Virginia, Suzanne S. The First Lady of Virginia meets with VCU Health Hume-Lee team members. On this day, all are encouraged to wear blue and green and work with local partners to educate the community about the Donate Life cause. In recognition of National Donate Life Blue & Green Day, one of the month’s many dedicated events, the VCU Health Hume-Lee Transplant Center hosted a celebration in the VCU McGlothlin Medical Education Center lobby on Friday, April 14. April is National Donate Life Month, an annual awareness month that aims to inspire people to register as organ donors and to celebrate the lives of those who have provided the gift of an organ donation.
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