East Norriton, PA (April 5, 2022) – Suburban Community Hospital, a Gift of Life representative, East Norriton Township representatives, employees, and a donor recipient, celebrated National Donate Life Month at the April 5 flag-raising ceremony.
According to the PA donate life website, more than 118,000 people in the United States are waiting for a transplant, and hundreds of thousands more wait for life-enhancing tissue transplants. In Pennsylvania alone, there are more than 7,000 people on the waiting list.
“At Suburban Community Hospital, we are able to save many lives through organ donation due to those who have generously donated an organ to someone else. In many cases, organ, tissue, and eye donation cements the legacy of our donors by turning a tragic event into a lifesaving opportunity. We are proud to honor these heroes, as well as the families who have supported their wishes,” said Michael Motte, Chief Executive Officer of Suburban Community Hospital.
Those who attended the ceremony heard remarks from Motte; Kevin McDevitt, Supervisor, East Norriton Twp.; Tameka Childs-Wolfe, Coordinator, Gift of Life; and Nicholas Bianchini, Ambassador, Gift of Life, and organ donor recipient.
“This year marks five years that I have been given the gift of a new life. After receiving a heart transplant, my life radically changed. Not only have I become healthier physically, but my outlook on life has transformed,” shared Bianchini. “In order to help pay it forward, I volunteer so that I can share how becoming an organ and tissue donor can become part of everyone’s legacy.”
“Throughout Donate Life Month, we will be glowing blue and green lights at the front of the hospital to signify the commitment Suburban Community Hospital has to educating and informing our team members, patients and families about organ donation,” said Kristen Piano, Patient Experience Coordinator, Suburban Community Hospital.
The hospital’s flag-raising ceremony supports those on the transplant waiting lists and to honor organ and tissue donors and their families. During the ceremony Motte shared messages of support for organ and tissue donation.
“National Donate Life Month is an opportunity to honor our heroic organ and tissue donors and to celebrate the impact of organ donation and transplantation has. It’s also a time to remember the people in our community that are waiting for a lifesaving transplant,” said Childs-Wolfe. “We ask everyone to join us in raising awareness and inspiring others to say yes to donation.”
McDevitt stated, “The partnership with Suburban Community Hospital and East Norriton Township is a great way to further our involvement in organ donation. It helps us generate ideas for donation awareness in the hospital and throughout the community.”
At the conclusion of the ceremony, a special blue and green flag was raised outside Suburban Community Hospital to serve as a constant reminder of the precious gift of life – and the importance of choosing organ and tissue donation.
To learn more about organ and tissue donation and transplantation, visit www.donors1.org.