Organ donors & families honored at Hendrick Medical flag ceremony

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – A flag-raising ceremony was held Monday morning at the northside Hendrick Medical Center, honoring organ donors and their families. One by one, loved ones took turns raising the blue and green Donate Life flag at the hospital’s main entrance.

Doug Butler, Chief Operating Officer with Southwest Transplant Alliance, spoke on the emotional significance of April as Donate Life Month.

“In the moment, are we able to get past that grief and trauma to think about others? That’s a very tough thing for families, and these families are courageous,” Butler said.

Nationally, someone is added to the transplant waiting list every 9 minutes. Sadly, 17 people die each day, still waiting. But here’s a powerful local stat: 13 organ donors from Hendrick Health have saved 43 lives and provided tissue donations for another 21 people.

Click here to learn more about organ, eye, and tissue donation.