CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — OhioHealth Berger Hospital associates gathered on Tuesday, April 23rd for a flag-raising ceremony in conjunction with Lifeline of Ohio to celebrate Donate Life Month. This event highlights the importance of organ, eye, and tissue donation, joining initiatives nationwide that promote awareness.
“The impact of donation on donor families is indescribable,” said Jessie Borden, Lifeline of Ohio donation program coordinator. “Witnessing your loved one continue to make a difference, even after their passing, is a powerful form of healing. Hospitals like Berger provide families with the opportunity to create something positive from tragic circumstances.”
OhioHealth Berger Hospital and Lifeline of Ohio have partnered for over a decade.
Gwen Moore, whose daughter Katie became an organ donor after her passing six years ago, shared her family’s experience at the event. “It helped us through our grief process,” Moore said. “Throughout the donation process, healthcare staff and Lifeline treated her with dignity and respect. What that meant to us as a family is beyond words. My daughter had a complicated past, but when she left the hospital that day, she was a hero.”
“Our affiliation with Lifeline of Ohio embodies our commitment to fostering hope and healing within our community,” said Casey Liddy, president of Berger Hospital. “Donate Life Month is a time of advocacy and education. It offers us the opportunity to honor those in our communities who have given the gift of life to others.”
Important Facts from Lifeline of Ohio:
- One organ donor can save up to eight lives.
- One tissue donor can heal over 75 people.
- One placenta donor provides 25 grafts for healing surgical wounds.
- Over 3,100 people in Ohio are currently awaiting a lifesaving organ transplant.
The hospital also installed a pinwheel garden in remembrance of donors who received care at Berger.
To register as a donor, visit www.registerme.org.
