MORGANTOWN — Nearly 115,000 people in the U.S. are waiting for an organ transplant of some sort.
“Every 10 minutes, that number increases as someone new is added,” Daphne Scordato, vice president of Patient Care Services at Mon Health System, told a group gathered in the lobby at Mon Health Medical Center on Wednesday.
The group was there to celebrate Donate Life Month and raise a flag outside the hospital to honor the work employees do with the Center for Organ Recovery and Education (CORE).
“National Donate Life Month marks the perfect time to reflect on the difference that we all make,” Scordato said.
She said the relationship with CORE, as well as recognizing former donors and employee efforts toward organ donation, was the main purpose for the gathering. They also want to also increase awareness and clear up common misconceptions about organ donation.
“Changing that starts with us,” Scordato said. “Just one person can have an incredible impact. We raised the flag today to raise awareness for organ and tissue donation and cornea donation, and to help celebrate, along with our community, the efforts that are being made to donate these organs and tissues.”
