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Lower Bucks Hospital Honors Donor Heroes with Flag Raising During National Donate Life Month in April
Bristol, PA (April 01, 2024) – Representatives and employees from Lower Bucks Hospital and the Gift of Life Donor Program came together to participate in a flag-raising ceremony on April 1 to celebrate the start of National Donate Life Month and raise awareness for organ donation.
This year marks the Gift of Life’s one-year commemoration of their 50 years of service to the community.
According to the PA Donate Life website, more than 100,000 people in the U.S. are currently waiting for a life-saving transplant, with hundreds of thousands more in need of tissue transplants to enhance their quality of life. In Pennsylvania alone, over 5,000 individuals remain on the waiting list for an organ donation that could save or transform their lives.
In 2023, the generosity of four individuals gave the precious gift of life through organ donation at Lower Bucks Hospital, giving new hope and opportunity to those awaiting organ and tissue transplants. Through their kindness and willingness to give back, fifteen priceless gifts were bestowed upon those in desperate need, a true testament to the power of human compassion and altruism.
Those who were present at the ceremony had the opportunity to listen to remarks from three distinguished individuals: Denise Cirio, Gift of Life Coordinator; Shelley DeRitis, Volunteer Ambassador and donor mom; and Michael Mignone, Radiology Director of Lower Bucks Hospital. They shared their valuable insights and experiences with the audience.
During the ceremony, Cirio offered words of hope and encouragement, “The complex process from donation to transplant is truly a team effort that depends on each one of you. Our ability to save lives relies on your skill and dedication, working in close collaboration with Gift of Life to offer families the opportunity for donation in a caring and sensitive manner.”
Cirio highlighted the importance of teamwork and how the transplant process is complex from donation to transplant. She said, “Our ability to save lives relies on your skill and dedication, working in close collaboration with Gift of Life to offer families the opportunity for donation in a caring and sensitive manner.” She emphasized that every individual plays a crucial role in saving lives through organ donation. “Your partnership has made it possible for us to make a profound impact on generations, far greater than any of us could have imagined 50 years ago.
DeRitis shared the heart-wrenching story of her daughter’s passing and how she and her granddaughter made the selfless decision to donate her daughters’ kidneys to carry on her memory.
At the event, Mignone spoke passionately about the impact of organ donation on those waiting for a second chance at life. “Despite having experienced firsthand how devastating it can be for a loved one unable to benefit from such gifts due to circumstances beyond control, we must remain resolute and press ahead as champions promoting the importance of organ donation and spreading awareness.”
The hospital’s flag-raising ceremony supports those on the transplant waiting lists and honors organ and tissue donors and their families.
After the ceremony, a special blue and green flag was raised 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, or to register to become an organ donor, visit www.donors1.org .
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About Lower Bucks Hospital: Lower Bucks Hospital is a community hospital, serving the Lower Bucks County region with medical, surgical, and emergency care. Located in historic Bristol, Pennsylvania, the Hospital is well-known for its knowledgeable medical staff, including cardiology, orthopedics, radiology, wound care, and general surgery. The hospital has more than 200 physicians on staff, as well as another 700 employees. As part of Prime Healthcare Services, headquartered in Ontario, California, Lower Bucks Hospital is focused on becoming one of the leaders in technology.
Prime Healthcare is an award-winning hospital management company operating 45 acute care hospitals in 14 states, including Roxborough Memorial Hospital in Philadelphia, Lower Bucks Hospital in Bristol, and Suburban Community Hospital in Montgomery County.
About Prime Healthcare and Prime Healthcare Foundation: Prime Healthcare is an award-winning health system operating 44 hospitals and more than 300 outpatient locations in 14 states, providing over 2.6 million patient visits annually. It is one of the nation’s leading health systems with nearly 50,000 employees and physicians dedicated to providing the highest quality healthcare. Fourteen of the Prime Healthcare hospitals are members of the Prime Healthcare Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity. Based in Ontario, California, Prime Healthcare is nationally recognized for award-winning quality care and has been named a Top 10 and Top 15 Health System by IBM Watson Health. Its hospitals have been named among the nation’s “100 Top Hospitals” 58 times and have received more Patient Safety Excellence Awards from Healthgrades than any other health system in the past six years. To learn more, please visit www.primehealthcare.com