Athens hospital honors donors

They couldn’t do it in the normal way because of concerns about coronavirus: Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center says it held a virtual flag-raising ceremony to honor donors of organs, eyes, and tissue.

From Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center…

Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center recently held a Donate Life flag-raising ceremony to promote unity and hope as well as honor and celebrate the hundreds of thousands of donors and recipients whose lives have been affected by organ, eye and tissue donation.

“Organ and tissue donation can save and improve lives in our community, across Georgia and across the nation, and Piedmont Athens Regional wants to help drive that point home with this symbolic flag,” said Candis Lee Wiercioch, RN, director of cardiac and critical care services at Piedmont Athens Regional. “Joining the donor registry gives hope to those in need of organ and tissue transplants, while leaving a legacy of generosity for the donor and his or her family.”

Throughout the month, numerous hospitals and municipalities across the country are holding flag-raising ceremonies in conjunction with Donate Life America’s national celebration, which began in 2009.

“Though the community was unable to join us for our annual flag-raising celebration at Piedmont Athens Regional due to the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, members of our staff gathered to ensure these donors and recipients were honored,” Wiercioch said.

The initiative rallies every donor hospital and transplant center, as well as all recovery agencies, to collectively fly the Donate Life flag.

Piedmont Athens Regional is proud to participate in this initiative.

LifeLink of Georgia is a non-profit community service organization dedicated to the recovery of organs and tissues for transplantation. To learn more about organ and tissue donation, visit lifelinkfoundation.org.