Conemaugh Nason Medical Center Recognizes Organ Donors

According to the Center for Organ Recovery and Education (CORE), nearly 110,000 people in the United States are waiting for an organ transplant. Every 10 minutes someone is added to the transplant waiting list while at least 20 people die each day while waiting for an organ.

To shine a light on the need for organ donors, April has been designated "National Donate Life Month," and on Wednesday, April 7, Conemaugh Nason Medical Center in Roaring Spring held a flag-raising ceremony to raise awareness locally to the need for organ donors.

Barbara Ritchey, administrative nursing assistant at Conemaugh Nason, said the theme of this year's observance was inspired by the springtime scene of a garden.

"A garden and the insects within it serve as symbols of hope, courage and transformed life. Themes repeatedly found within the donation and transplantation journey," she said.

Ritchey said she is proud of the work Conemaugh Nason does on behalf of organ donation.

"Here at Conemaugh Nason, our work offers hope for a second chance at life to those waiting for a life-saving or life-restoring transplant," she said. "We help give comfort amidst tragedy to grieving donor families whose loved ones will live on through donation. We have all cultivated a greater understanding of donation and transplantation here in our own hospital and our own community."

Dan Burkhart of Altoona is a two-time recipient of a kidney transplant. Born with a form of spina bifida, doctors were forced to remove both of his legs when he was a young boy. In 2009 the one kidney he was born with began to fail. Burkhart's brother donated a kidney to him but about a decade later, it began to fail. He was put back on the donor list while actively seeking a kidney through a social media campaign.

In 2020 his received his second kidney from a non-living donor. Burkhart said the work done by CORE is vital to helping save the lives of those in need of an organ transplant.

"I wouldn't be here without their work," he said. "The support they give people and finding donors."

Jessica Wilt, a living donor, said when someone donates an organ, they are saving two lives.

"A doctor told me that giving yourself to the donation process takes another person off the list," she said. "In essence, you are helping two people when you donate."

In 2019, Wilt donated a kidney to Spring Cove basketball coach Randy Potts. Wilt said it is an enriching experience to help another person and her reward is getting to see Potts get better every day. She said people should not let fear stop them from becoming a living donor.

"It is not a grueling process," she said. "As you can see, we are back to normal."

Potts said he had been on the donor waiting list for about four years when Wilt was tested and matched.

"At one time I just wanted to give up and call it quits," he said. 'I'm glad I didn't and appreciate everything that has been done for me. We will be family and friends the rest of our lives."

Ritchey said more than 7,000 people in Pennsylvania are waiting for a transplant and said she hopes more people will become donors as they work to save the lives of those in need.

"I ask each of you to continue to be part of this life-saving and healing garden by registering as an organ, tissue, and cornea donor," she said.