April 25, 2022
In observance of National Donate Life Month this April, Fort HealthCare has raised a Donate Life flag (April 22nd) to honor the many organ, tissue and eye donors who gave the gift of life to so many others in need.
Observed in April each year, National Donate Life Month is intended to raise awareness about the importance and need of organ, eye, and tissue donation, to encourage Americans to register as donors, and to honor those that have saved lives through the gift of donation.
“By raising the Donate Life flag at Fort HealthCare, we are honoring the donation heroes that we have cared for within our walls and signaling our ongoing commitment to ensuring that the people who need a second chance at life will get one,” said Kathleen Gebhardt, Director of Inpatient Services. “I encourage everyone who hasn’t registered as a donor to do so today, and then share your lifesaving decision with your friends and family. Registering as a donor relieves your family of the burden of making this decision at a time of sadness and grief.”
Currently, there are more than 100,000 men, women and children awaiting organ transplants in the United States, including more than 1,500 people here in Wisconsin. Unfortunately, not all these people will receive a second chance at life.
Fort HealthCare encourages residents in the communities it serves to give hope and help save lives by registering your decision to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor at organdonor.gov, in the Medical ID tab of your iPhone Health app, or at the Wisconsin DMV. To those who have already registered their donation decision, thank you! Help continue to save lives by sharing the Donate Life message, educating others about the need and how their generosity can help save and heal lives.
Some important facts about organ, tissue, and cornea donation: