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Media Round-Up: Trinity Health System raises flag to honor Donate Life Month

BANNER — Jessica Porter, left, clinical manager of Trinity Medical Center West’s Intensive Care Unit, and Shasta Cunningham, the widow of organ donor and former Mingo Junction resident Mike Cunningham, held the flag that will fly on the Trinity West campus through April for National Donate Life Month. — Christopher Dacanay, Herald-Star

Our thanks to the media organizations who covered the raising of our National Donate Life Month flag at Trinity Medical Center West this past Tuesday, April 8, at 11 a.m.

Here are excerpts from their coverage, along with links to the full reports:

Herald-Star: Trinity flying flag to promote organ donation by Christopher Dacanay

Emblazoned with the words “Donate Life,” a flag will wave on Trinity Medical Center West’s campus through April, encouraging community members to impact and potentially save others’ lives through organ donation.

Trinity staff held a flag raising ceremony Tuesday to commemorate National Donate Life Month, which seeks to educate the public on organ, cornea and tissue donation and honor individuals who’ve given the gift of life. This week, Trinity West’s main lobby is hosting a quilt that memorializes 30 different donors, including one from Mingo Junction.

Present for the ceremony was Faith Hilterbrand, who represents Lifeline of Ohio, an independent nonprofit organization that promotes and coordinates the donation of human organs and tissue for transplantation. Lifeline of Ohio’s director of external partner relations, Hilterbrand spoke on the “Donate Life” flag’s significance.

“This flag symbolizes so many important themes: Life, loss, healing and hope. This flag flies in honor of the thousands of donor-heroes and their families who said yes to donation,” she said. “It flies in celebration of more than 1 million recipients who have received organ, eye and tissue transplants. And it flies to give hope to the nearly 3,000 people across the state of Ohio and more than 100,000 people across the country who are still waiting for their life saving gifts.”

You can read the entire report here.

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WTOV: Flag raised and quilt displayed at Trinity Medical Center West for Donate Life Month

A flag was raised and a quilt displayed on Tuesday morning at Trinity Medical Center West to honor National Donate Life Month.

The event, attended by hospital staff and the family of a donor, aimed to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation.

“It’s important for families as well as others to make known what their wishes are because one organ donor can save up to eight lives. One tissue donor can save up to 75 lives,” said Jessica Porter, clinical manager of the intensive care unit at Trinity.

Shasta Cunningham, a member of a donor family, shared her personal experience.

“My husband was a donor, he was only able to donate his corneas and his tissues, but that’s still very important. He gave eyesight to two different people,” she said.

You can view the entire report here.

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WTRF: Trinity Health System raises flag to honor Donate Life Month

A donor quilt, which featured a Steubenville Family is being displayed in the main lobby.

“Through Lifeline of Ohio and the donation, he wasn’t able to donate his organs but he was able to donate his corneas. So at least after Mike’s death, he was able to help someone, somehow. He was a great man, is what I can really say about him. Everybody knew him, in this area at least. And I’m honored that Trinity was able to get a quilt square that we made.” — Shasta Cunningham, Donor, Family Member

“It’s an honor to be able to honor them and their families for making the ultimate sacrifice and making the decision to become a donor, because it is important for everybody to know what their families wishes are and to go through with them.” — Jessica Porter, Intensive Care Manager, Trinity Health Care System

Shasta’s husband Mike was a huge Steubenville Big Red fan who passed away after suffering a massive heart attack at 41.

You can view the entire report here.

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Novotney Now: Jessica Porter Radio Interview

Veteran journalist and talk show host Steve Novotney also spoke with Jessica Porter on Tuesday during the 3 p.m. hour of his afternoon talk show, Novotney Now.

Novotney Now can be heard Mondays through Fridays in the Steubenville/Weirton areas on 100.9 FM and AM1430 WEIR and in the Wheeling area on 100.1 FM and AM1290 WOMP.

You can also stream Novotney Now here: https://us7.maindigitalstream.com/4411/

Here’s a link to the entire interview.

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Background on National Donate Life Month

It’s amazing to think one person can save up to 8 lives through organ donation and provide healing for more than 75 through tissue donation.

National Donate Life Month (NDLM) is a time to honor those generous donors who have saved and healed lives through the gift of donation. It’s also a time to raise awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation and encourage people to register their donation decision.

  • Nearly 3,000 Ohioans are waiting for a lifesaving transplant, and
  • More than half of Ohioans have registered their decision to be a donor in the Ohio Donor Registry.

NDLM was established by Donate Life America (DLA) and its partnering organizations in 2003 and is observed annually each April. This year’s theme is, “Let Life Sing,” and features several types of birds on the campaign graphic.

According to the DLA website, birds were chosen “because they are known across many cultures as one of the most welcomed and visible signs of spring. They represent both new beginnings and visits from loved ones who have passed away. The yearly return of birds and their songs offer us a sense of peace and hope.”

National Donate Life Month Celebrations

About Lifeline of Ohio

Founded in 1984, Lifeline of Ohio is an independent, non-profit organization that promotes and coordinates the donation of human organs and tissue for transplantation. Lifeline of Ohio serves 97 hospitals and facilities in 38 counties in Ohio and 2 in West Virginia and is designated as an organ procurement organization through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

More information about organ, eye and tissue donation is available at: lifelineofohio.org