CCH Recognizes BeADonor Month with New Memorial Display
2022-04-08
Cornwall
Community Hospital (CCH) is commemorating BeADonor Month with a new memorial
display dedicated to organ and tissue donors and their families.
The
display is installed in the waiting room of the hospital’s Critical Care Unit,
an area where end-of-life conversations often take place with families of
potential donors, and where people will be able to reflect on the gift of life
that donors have made. The display’s tree of life is meant to represent
strength and new beginnings.
The
idea for a memorial at CCH first came from a donor’s family and the final
design was approved by the hospital’s Organ and Tissue Donation Committee.
“At
a most difficult time, donors and their families pursued the opportunity to
give others the gift of life through organ and tissue donation; and in many
ways, it’s the greatest gift someone can provide,” says Jeanette Despatie,
President and Chief Executive Officer, CCH. “This new display is dedicated to all
organ and tissue donors at CCH and their families who supported the decision to
donate, saving and improving the lives of many people,” she adds.
April
is BeADonor Month; a month dedicated to raising awareness for organ donation to
help save more lives through transplants.
Today,
in Ontario, there are more than 1,500 people waiting for a life-saving organ
transplant – including some in our very own community – and every three days
someone will die because they did not get their transplant in time. Although
more than 90% of Ontarians support organ donation, only 35% have registered. By
donating your organs and tissues after death, you can save up to eight lives
and improve up to 75 more.
While
some believe that age or medical conditions prevents the opportunity to donate,
in actuality, neither age nor health precludes someone from becoming an organ
donor. Organ and tissue donation also does not impact funeral plans including
open caskets. When you register, you can choose which organs to donate and you
can withdraw your registration at any time.
“Registering
to donate gives hope to those in your community who are waiting for a
life-saving transplant. It only takes 2 minutes and could one day save lives,”
says Dr. Chris Simpson, Executive Vice-President of Medical, Ontario Health.
“I’m asking everyone who has not yet registered to do so at www.BeADonor.ca and
then talk to your family about your decision.”
Since
2014, CCH has run its own organ and tissue donation program in partnership with
Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network). Since then, the hospital has
successfully facilitated 7 organ donations, directly saving the lives of 13
people, and improving the lives of many more thanks to over 100 tissue
donations.
Last
year, CCH was recognized by Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network) with
the Eligible Approach Rate Award for outstanding efforts in facilitating a
donation discussion with eligible patients or families of patients at
end-of-life.
With
a registration rate of 41%, the City of Cornwall exceeds the provincial
registration average of 35%, ranking 128th out of 170 communities in Ontario.
Learn more and register your consent to be an organ and tissue donor today at www.BeADonor.ca.
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