OhioHealth Marion General Hospital Honors Donor Heroes at Annual Donate Life Flag Raising Ceremony
A sea of pinwheels, stories of selfless giving, and a powerful moment of silence.
This week, OhioHealth Marion General Hospital and Lifeline of Ohio held a flag-raising ceremony outside the hospital to honor the lives of those who have been impacted by organ, eye, and tissue donation.
“Donation makes a huge difference,” said Janelle Hafer, nurse educator and Marion General Hospital’s liaison for organ and tissue donation. “In the past 10 years, the hospital has supported 24 organ donors and 87 tissue donors. Each of those lives and legacies are represented here in our pinwheel garden.”
Many donor families were present, and Hafer offered a special welcome, thanking them for their courage and generosity.
“You and your loved one have made a difference in the lives of others,” she said.
When it comes to potentially life-saving gifts – there is something new and significant this year that was also highlighted during the ceremony. Nearly one month ago, Lifeline of Ohio’s placenta donation program expanded across several OhioHealth care sites – and that included Marion General Hospital.
“Through this program, any expectant mother planning a C-section can be a potential donor,” said Charity Coffman, director of nursing at Marion General Hospital. “Last year, Lifeline of Ohio received 737 donated placentas, which helped create nearly 18,000 healing grafts—used in procedures for skin, eye, and dental repairs. There is a special pinwheel in our garden to honor that powerful gift.”
National Donate Life Month, established in 2003 by Donate Life America, is observed every April to raise awareness, honor donors, and encourage individuals to register as organ, eye, and tissue donors. This year’s theme celebrates the ripple effect of donation—the impact of one person’s decision to say “yes.”
The ceremony also included heartfelt remarks from a donor family member, a representative from Lifeline of Ohio, and a moving prayer and moment of silence. Following the prayer, the Donate Life flag was raised in their honor.
“This flag will fly with gratitude for the remainder of the month,” said Jamie Cunningham, chief nursing officer and vice president of Patient Care Services. “It is a symbol of the brave decisions made by donors and their families and our continued promise to honor their legacy.”
Cunningham emphasized the far-reaching impact of one donor: saving up to 8 lives through organ donation, healing as many as 75 through tissue donation, restoring sight to 2 people, and advancing research that benefits generations to come.
The ceremony concluded with an invitation to a reception and a special thank you for donor and recipient families, who were presented with tokens of appreciation from TWIG VI volunteers.
To learn more about Lifeline of Ohio please visit: Home - Lifeline of Ohio.
