Hood River Hospital Displays “Threads of Life” Quilt

8/31/07

Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital invites the community to view this year’s Donate Life Northwest’s beautiful and poignant Threads of Life Quilt. It will be on display in the hospital’s main lobby from Wednesday, September 5 through Thursday, September 13.

The Threads of Life Quilt is dedicated to the memory of those who gave the gift of life by being organ donors and celebrates the lives of transplant recipients. Each square on the quilt was created by a member of a donor family or by a transplant recipient.

“This year’s quilt is absolutely beautiful and truly reflects the wonderful gift organ and tissue donation represents,” noted Mary Jane Hunt, executive director of Donate Life Northwest. “This year’s celebration is even more significant in that it coincides with the launch of our new statewide donor registry.”

Donate Life Northwest launched its statewide online donor registry earlier this year. The secure electronic system provides a safe, easy way for individuals to be certain their wishes to become an organ, eye and tissue donor are known and honored.

Currently, nearly 1.5 million Oregonians have “D” marked on their driver’s licenses, indicating their decision to be organ, eye and tissue donors. However, the potential donor’s family members must give consent. Registering through the online donor registry takes the burden off family members and serves as informed consent to become a donor.

Found at donatelifenw.org, the registry allows individuals 13 years or older to specify what they wish to donate, update their information or remove themselves from the registry at any time. Donate Life Northwest, but only authorized employees of the organ administer the registry, eye and tissue recovery agencies can access the information in the database.

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About Donate Life Northwest
By providing current information on organ, eye and tissue donation, Donate Life Northwest (formerly Oregon Donor Program), a nonprofit organization, has been advocating for improved donation laws, educating the public and raising the region’s donation rate since 1975. For more information, visit donatelifenw.org or call 800-452-1369.