Memorial Health hospitals are hosting information tables throughout November to help raise awareness about faith-based perspectives on organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation.
In the past year, 13 organ donors and 69 tissue donors have donated at Memorial Health hospitals.
“Some potential donors may question their faith’s position on organ and tissue donation when registering as an organ donor,” said Angie Hermes, RN, nurse manager for 3C ICU at Springfield Memorial Hospital. “The focus for Faith and Hope Month is to educate people that every major religion in the United States supports organ donation as an acceptable and commendable expression of compassion and love.”
According to Gift of Hope, more than 100,000 adults and children in the United States, including 5,000 in Illinois and Indiana, are waiting for organ transplants. A single person can save up to eight lives as an organ donor, enhance the lives of more than 25 people through tissue donation and help restore sight for two people.
Information tables and a complimentary green ribbon to encourage others to “Say Yes” to organ, eye and tissue donation will be available at all five hospitals in November:
- DMH: Barnes Lobby
- JMH: Cafeteria
- LMH: Outside of Woods Café
- SMH: Main Lobby
- TMH: Main Entrance
People interested in learning more about organ, eye and tissue donation can also go online to: https://giftofhope.org/join-the-registry/, https://saving-sight.org and https://www.eversightvision.org/.