OhioHealth Marion General Hospital and Lifeline of Ohio Host Ceremony to Honor Organ Donors

OhioHealth Marion General Hospital and Lifeline of Ohio are honoring organ and tissue donors who have helped save lives. 

On Tuesday April 2, 2024, dozens of people gathered for a ceremony outside Marion General Hospital to celebrate the gift of life and to honor donors, recipients, and their families. 

“This moment honors those who made the choice to save a life by becoming an organ or tissue donor. We want to share our gratitude for them while extending our condolences to their family and loved ones,” said Jim Parobek, president of Marion General Hospital. 

At Tuesday’s ceremony, there was a garden of pinwheels. Each pinwheel represented a donor who received care at Marion General Hospital over the last decade. 

“The pinwheel garden is a strong visual representation of the patients we serve and their families. It’s one small way for us to honor and remember their lives and their lasting impact,” said Jamie Cunningham, chief nursing officer and vice president of patient care services at Marion General Hospital. 

“Each donation is truly a gift. We hosted multiple community donor families at our ceremony on Tuesday. This allowed us to personally honor and thank them for the impact that they and their loved ones have made through their selfless gift," said Janelle Hafer, a nurse and clinical educator at Marion General Hospital. “The ceremony was powerful. One family of an organ donor shared their appreciation for the ceremony and explained how they have been able to find some level of closure due to organ donation even in this difficult time. It was an extremely moving moment.” 

According to Lifeline of Ohio, 445 lives were saved by organ donors in 2023. 

April is National Donate Life Month and it was established in 2003 by Donate Life America and its partnering organizations. For the past 21 years, it’s been a time of education and advocacy for organ donation. 

To learn more about Lifeline of Ohio click here.