Catawba Valley Medical Center Raises Donate Life Flag at April 3 Ceremony

April 3rd was the annual Pause to Give Life flag-raising event sponsored by HonorBridge to recognize those who have participated in organ, eye, and tissue donation and to recognize April as National Donate Life Month. Catawba Valley Health System (CVHS) joined in the flag-raising ceremonies happening across the United States at the flagpole outside the hospital’s main entrance.

Traditionally, the flag is raised at 10:08 a.m. The time of the event symbolizes that 1) a new name is added to the wait list for organs, eyes, and tissues every 10 minutes, and 2) a single donor can impact eight lives. Following the flag-raising there was a moment of silence and a prayer to recognize the generous donations made by the donors and their families, the expertise of the clinical teams involved in the transplant process, and the donor recipients and their families.

Melanie Lutz, director of CVHS Cancer Programs, said at the ceremony, “Over five million North Carolinians have registered as organ, eye, and tissue donors, but more must be done. We ask that you pause with us and reflect on the impact of these priceless gifts and consider registering as a donor if you haven’t already. We hope to create a culture where donation becomes a fundamental human responsibility.”

You may register at honorbridge.org/registerme/ or you may say ‘yes’ to donation at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Over 3,000 North Carolinians await transplants and over 100,000 American men, women and children are in need as well. Over the past year, HonorBridge staff transplanted 1,003 organs, and helped save 912 lives, its highest number ever.