UHC honors donors and their families for National Donate a Life Month
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (WBOY) — On Friday morning, the United Hospital Center celebrated the start of the National Donate Life Month with a special flag raising event alongside the Center for Organ Recovery and Education (CORE).
The annual event honored all donors and their families, including four families whose loved one became donors.
In 2024, more than 900 life-saving organ transplants were done in western Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
3-year-old reads 1,000 books through public library program
One mother, Sharon Smith, shared her daughter Abigail's story of being a donor after a tragic accident. Abigail's donation ended up saving five lives and helping two blind people regain vision.
'Through those people she can live on, and as a mom it's very humbling to know that her heart is still beating, and her lungs are still breathing and that she's affected so many different lives by just being selfless,' Smith said.
Hospital and CORE officials said it's important for families to have a conversation about their wishes to become a donor. Jeremy Zeiders, WV Designated Requester for CORE explained further.
'The misconception of doctors not saving your life if you're in the position to be a donor is a falsehood,' Zeiders said. 'CORE is not notified until the family makes that decision to withdraw care or until that patient meets a certain criteria which means that they can likely not recover and it is still—we don't talk to the family until the family makes the decision that withdrawal is what they would like to do.'
For more information about CORE, you can go here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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