OhioHealth Southeastern Medical Center events bring awareness to Donate Life Month

CAMBRIDGE — Hospital associates recently gathered for a flag-raising at OhioHealth Southeastern Medical Center to celebrate Donate Life Month, in partnership with Lifeline of Ohio which brings awareness to the importance of organ, eye and tissue donations every year in April.

OhioHealth Southeastern Medical Center has partnered with Lifeline of Ohio for over a decade. “Organ, eye and tissue donation wouldn’t be possible without our partnerships with OhioHealth and other community hospitals,” said Jessie Borden, Lifeline of Ohio donation program coordinator. “Small facilities can have a big impact.”

“I was very sick,” said Tim St. Clair, who received a lifesaving liver donation in November of 2011 and was an honored speaker at the flag-raising event. “Without the donation, I probably wouldn’t have made it to the first of the year. I’m doing better today. I’m very grateful to my donor and to all donors.”

“We are proud of our partnership with Lifeline of Ohio,” said Wendy Elliot, president of OhioHealth Southeastern Medical Center. “For those that choose to donate, there is a sense of comfort knowing that they can help others and that a portion of themselves lives on.”

According to Borden:

• One organ donor can save eight lives.
• One tissue donor can heal more than 75 people.
• One placenta donor provides 25 grafts used to heal surgery site and other wounds.
• In Ohio, there are over 3,100 people waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant.

The hospital has additional activities planned to raise awareness and honor those who have given the gift of life this month including awareness ribbons and Friday Wear Blue and Green days for associates to support Donate Life Month and a pinwheel garden on the hospital grounds in remembrance of donors.

Community members can register to be donors at www.registerme.org .

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: OhioHealth Southeastern Medical Center events bring awareness to Donate Life Month