Mayo Clinic Health System holds Donation Awareness flag raising in La Crosse
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) – April is National Donate Life Month. Plenty of health clinics across the county are celebrating those who donate and receive organs. First News at Nine’s Dashal Mentzel was at an event in La Crosse that is helping to raise awareness about organ donation.
The Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse hosted a flag-raising ceremony this morning (4/10/24). Donation Liaison, Anja Drogseth, says the ceremony is special because it honors everyone who’s been through the organ donation process, “All of the people that have donated, all of the families that have chosen to make that hard decision and just all the hospitals kind of at the same time, it’s a just a movement in unity to kind of show support throughout the nation.”
Drogseth adds it’s important for everyone to know about the constant need for organ donors, “The demand for organs is always greater than the amount that we have. Only about 3% of people who die pass on in a way that even allows for organ donation to be possible. So registering is really, really important.”
Mary Bubbers’ son passed away in 2002 after being involved in a car accident. He was registered as a donor. Mary says it’s great meeting with people with similar stories, “That started us on this journey of becoming part of this wonderful community that supports people like us. We got to meet so many other people who have benefited from it. And we hear their stories of how they have gone on to live.”
Many doctors, nurses, and others attended today’s ceremony. Drogseth hopes events like this can bring more awareness to the community, “It shows that we are unified and that we all really care about this. We’ve invited people from the community. I think flying the flag in areas where people can see it just begs questions. And when you ask questions, awareness is brought.”
The flag was raised at exactly 10:08 because, for every person who donates organs, eight lives can be saved. In La Crosse, Dashal Mentzel, First News at Nine.
Mayo Clinic Health System will be hosting a Lunch-and-Learn event next Thursday (418/24) with Gundersen Health System at Viterbo University to help spread more awareness about organ donation.
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