Macon hospitals raise Donate Life flag to honor donors, encourage registration

Piedmont Macon facilities mark Donate Life Month by raising awareness about the need for organ donors

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – April marks Donate Life Month, and in Macon, two hospitals raised a flag to honor organ donors and encourage others to register.

At Piedmont Macon Medical Center and Piedmont Macon North Hospital, the Donate Life flag now flies as a symbol of hope. Hospital leaders say the ceremony is meant to recognize donors, their families and the lives saved through organ donation.

Elizabeth Larkins, chief nursing officer for Piedmont Macon, says the month is about honoring those who have made the decision to give and raising awareness for those who have not yet registered.

“Really it’s about honoring and respecting the people that are registered, the people who have already donated organs, the families that have made that decision and the patients themselves,” she said. “And of course anyone who needs to be registered who hasn’t yet to raise that awareness.”

She says while about 95 percent of adults in the United States support organ donation, only about 55 to 60 percent are actually registered.

“We have a big gap and a lot of opportunity to raise awareness and help people do the thing that they have been probably meaning to do, but haven’t gotten around to yet,” she said.

Hu Whitten with LifeLink of Georgia works with hospitals across the state to facilitate organ donations. He says that gap can have life or death consequences.

“There’s over 100,000 people currently on the waiting list in the U.S. to receive an organ transplant,” Whitten said. “Everyday about 17 people die waiting on an organ, so it’s important for us to get the word out for the need that’s there.”

Last year, four donors at Piedmont Macon helped save nine lives, showing how one decision can make a lasting difference.