The “Tree of Life” at the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital saw growth once again thanks to the life saving decision of 24 donors.
In celebration of BeADonor Month, STEGH is recognizing the 22 tissue donors and two organ donors at the hospital by adding one leaf for each donation that took place between March and December of 2023.
The two organ donors alone gave the gift of life to five individuals.
Mike Cullen, Manager of the Intensive Care Unit and co-lead for Organ and Tissue Donation at STEGH, expresses the significance of recognizing the remarkable decisions made by donors and their families during challenging times. “Their noble choices have resulted in the countless lives being saved,” notes Cullen. “I urge everyone to consider organ and tissue donation.”
Thanks to the new additions, nearly 150 handcrafted leaves are now proudly displayed on the Tree of Life. The 3-dimensional tree is located on the wall of the “Hallway of Heroes,” situated outside of the Intensive Care Unit.
With over 4 million Ontarians formally registering their consent for organ and tissue donation, including an impressive 47% from St. Thomas, the hospital encourages open conversations within families regarding donation decisions.
One organ donor can save up to eight lives and you can take the two minutes to register at BeADonor.ca.
Written by: K. Freeman
