National Donate Life Month (NDLM) is observed every April to raise awareness about organ, eye and tissue donation; encourage registration; and honor donors. Established in 2003 by Donate Life America, it focuses on saving the nearly 100,000 Americans currently waiting for transplants.
Morgan County Coroner Marcy Patterson understands the importance of organ and tissue donation registration. Through her work as coroner, she witnesses firsthand how donation can create healing for others from a tragedy.
On April 7, the Morgan County Coroner’s Office joined up with Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network, a nonprofit organ procurement organization that services the northern three-fourths of Illinois and northwest Indiana, to host an event promoting being an organ donor. Held at X’s & O’s Donuts & Bakery on West Morton Avenue in Jacksonville, the morning was a full house and resulted in multiple people confirming their donor status and a few new ones being added to the list.
Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network works with hospitals, coroners, funeral directors and community partners to highlight the growing need for donation and the powerful legacy donors leave behind.
Throughout April, communities and municipalities across the region will host events, flag raisings and educational activities to celebrate donor heroes and encourage new donor registrations.
Jacksonville Memorial Hospital will host a flag-raising ceremony on Thursday, April 30, to call attention to the importance of organ and tissue donation. The event will be held at 2 p.m. at the flagpole located near the hospital’s main entrance.
For more information on being an organ donor, contact Morgan County Coroner Marcy Patterson at 217-245-7423.
