Cincinnati (March 30, 2015) – The Christ Hospital Health Network is celebrating the start of National Donate Life Month by gathering to share the stories of triumphs and successes with our kidney donors and recipients, and to honor all those who gave the gift of life.
The Donate Life kick-off event will be held Wednesday, April 1 at 10:00 a.m. in The Christ Hospital Atrium on A-Level.
Cincinnati City Councilman Chris Seelbach will be reading a City of Cincinnati proclamation declaring April 1 to be organ and tissue donation day at The Christ Hospital. Additional speakers include Rob Davis, vice president of ADT relationship at Defender Direct in Indianapolis who received the kidney of a deceased individual, and Megan Witte, who works in marketing at Kao Brands and was a living kidney donor to her mother.
Additional speakers include The Christ Hospital Chaplain Duane Campbell, The Christ Hospital Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Debbie Hayes, The Christ Hospital Comprehensive Service Line Executive Director Jason Schneck, and Barry Massa, the president of LifeCenter. A small reception in the Centennial Pavilion will follow after the event.
National Donate Life Month, celebrated each April, was instituted by Donate Life America and its members in 2003 and serves to encourage more Americans to choose to become organ donors. According to LifeCenter, there are more than 113,000 people in the U.S. awaiting a life-saving transplant, including more than 3,000 people in Ohio and over 500 in Greater Cincinnati.
More than 1,600 kidney transplants have been performed at The Christ Hospital since the transplant program was initiated in 1972. The program has grown to become one of the most successful renal transplant programs in the country. All of our kidney transplant procedures are performed laparoscopically, using the smallest possible incisions. With this technique, both recipients and donors typically experience a reduced length of hospital stay, less discomfort following the procedure, and a shorter recovery period.
Our kidney transplant team has compiled and answered many frequently asked questions by previous kidney transplant patients to help you and your loved ones understand our process and procedures a better. A team member would be happy to answer any further question you may have. For more information about kidney transplantation at The Christ Hospital, call the Kidney Transplant Center at 513-585-2493 or visit
http://www.thechristhospital.com/services/surgery/areas-of-expertise/transplant/kidney-transplant.
About The Christ Hospital Health Network: The Christ Hospital Health Network is a regional system of care that extends The Christ Hospital’s 125 years of exceptional care and leadership to more than 100 locations in the Greater Cincinnati area. The Network delivers integrated, individualized healthcare and wellness services through its comprehensive physician network, advanced specialty services and the region’s Most Preferred Hospital (National Research Corporation). Its mission is to improve the health of our community and create patient value by providing exceptional outcomes, affordable care and the finest experiences. To learn more about its locations and award-winning services, visit TheChristHospital.com.