On Jan. 1, Penn State Hershey Medical Center sponsored a rose on the Donate Life America float in the 127th Tournament of Roses Parade for each organ donor who gave the gift of life at our hospital from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2015. At a ceremony on Feb. 21 on the Medical Center campus, individuals representing those donors received a personalized certificate and a replica of the actual rose and vial placed on the Donate Life America float symbolizing their loved one’s gift.
More than 110 people representing donor families from across central Pennsylvania attended the Organ Donor Remembrance Ceremony. The event at the University Conference Center on the Penn State Hershey campus was coordinated by Medical Center staff and the Gift of Life Donor Program, the organ procurement organization for eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware.
Among the donors who were honored at the event was Kevin Spiers, who died at age 22 and whose corneas, heart valves and tissue were donated.
“It has given us comfort to know that, even in death, Kevin was able to help others,” said Joan Spiers, Kevin’s mother.
Wes Mallicone, who received a liver transplant eight years ago at Penn State Hershey, was among the speakers at Sunday’s ceremony. Mallicone was one of 24 people selected to ride on the Donate Life America float on Jan. 1. He is director of sports medicine at Shippensburg University.
“I am grateful, fortunate and proud to be standing in front of you today,” Mallicone said. “The selfless act of someone like you and your loved one has allowed me to live a new life.”
“There is not a day that goes by when I don’t think about my donor, my donor’s family and the gift that I’ve been given,” said Mallicone, who attended the ceremony with his parents and girlfriend.
Read more:Penn State Hershey Liver Center marks two years of providing comprehensive liver care – Penn State Medicine