AdventHealth Porter hosts Donate Life Month flag raising ceremony

DENVER, Colo. — On Friday, April 3, AdventHealth Porter marked the beginning of National Donate Life Month with a flag raising ceremony honoring organ and tissue donors, their families, and the health care teams who make transplantation possible.

The event brought together transplant professionals, hospital partners, and representatives from Donor Alliance to recognize the collective impact of donation and transplantation efforts across the region.

Thomas Collins, MD, transplant surgeon at AdventHealth Porter, reflected on the progress made over the past two decades.

“Over 20 years of celebrating transplant and donation, more than 100 million people have registered as donors,” Dr. Collins said. “During that time, hundreds of thousands of patients have received organ and tissue transplants as a result of the sacrifices made by both living and deceased donors.”

He emphasized that while transplant teams witness the life-changing outcomes firsthand, the ceremony serves a deeper purpose.

“The reason we raise this flag is to honor the donors and their families, who are truly the most important members of the transplant team,” Dr. Collins said. “Without them, we couldn’t restore lives the way we do.”

Jennifer Prinz, CEO of Donor Alliance, highlighted the broader significance of the month and the partnerships that sustain donation efforts.

“This month is about honoring our donors and donor families, thanking our hospital and transplant partners, celebrating recipients, and holding hope for those still waiting,” Jennifer said.

Prinz also underscored the strength of collaboration across organizations.

“It’s an opportunity to thank one another for our partnership and the way we work together, especially here, where that collaboration is strong,” she added.

The ceremony served as both a moment of gratitude and a call to action, encouraging the community to recognize donor families and consider registering as organ donors.