OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Honors Donor Legacies with Donate Life Flag Raising

In observance of National Donate Life Month, OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital partnered with Lifeline of Ohio on April 8 to host a flag-raising ceremony, bringing together caregivers, donor families and transplant recipients to reflect on the lasting impact of organ, eye and tissue donation.

“Donor families and their extraordinary gifts remind us why we do this work,” said Jim Parobek, president of OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital and OhioHealth Marion General Hospital. “We are proud to honor their legacies and the lasting impact they have on our patients, our hospital and the community.”

The event focused on this year’s Donate Life Month theme, “Leave a Legacy,” and the lasting impact donation can have across generations. One individual can save the lives of as many as eight people through organ donation, heal up to 75 others through tissue donation, provide approximately 25 healing grafts through placenta donation and restore sight to two people through cornea donation.

Within the last two decades, Hardin Memorial Hospital has supported 18 tissue donors and 17 Heroes in Spirit, representing the potential to help heal up to 1,350 people.

The ceremony included remarks from Brieanne Sullivan, who shared the story of her niece, Chloe, who became an organ donor at 17. She donated five organs and her corneas, and her tissue contributed to research advancing bone marrow procurement.

“Organ donation can bring blessings out of tragedy and hope out of a hopeless situation for donors, recipients and their families,” said Sullivan. “I encourage everyone to register and to share that decision with your loved ones so they can honor your choice.”

The ceremony concluded with a prayer, a moment of silence and the raising of the Donate Life flag.

Jamie Cunningham, chief nursing officer and vice president of Patient Care Services at OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital and OhioHealth Marion General Hospital, said the flag will remain on display throughout the month as a tribute to donor heroes.

“This flag will fly with gratitude to honor the decisions made by our donor heroes and their loved ones,” Cunningham said. “It also serves as a promise to continue honoring their legacies. We are grateful for their selfless gifts of donation.”

The event concluded with a reception and special thanks to donor and recipient families.

To learn more about Lifeline of Ohio, visit lifelineofohio.org.