Sangamon Sun

Every eight minutes, a new name is added to the organ transplant waiting list in the United States. Thousands receive a second chance at life through organ donation. Highlighting this issue, the first organ donor memorial walk is scheduled to take place at HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield. This event, coordinated by the Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Donor Network, is set for Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to noon at the St. John’s Hospital Pavilion, located at 301 N. 8th St., Springfield. The public is invited to participate.

During the memorial walk, participants will traverse a route marked with signs displaying the names and photos of donors from the region, including 14 patients from St. John’s Hospital who donated tissue, corneas, or organs in 2024. A Gift of Hope flag will be raised to recognize April as National Organ Donation Month.

St. John’s Hospital staff have previously been recognized by Gift of Hope for their efforts to promote organ donation. The encouragement from the staff to register as donors is part of the DoNation program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration. Polly Hohenbery, BSN, RN, Director of Adult Critical Care Services at St. John’s Hospital and liaison for Gift of Hope, accepted a Platinum status award on behalf of the hospital.

According to the HRSA, over 103,000 adults and children are currently on the national transplant waiting list.