Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is honoring all organ donors and organ donor recipients during Organ Donor Awareness Month with green lighting on the front of the hospital building throughout the month of April.
Organ Donor Awareness Month occurs every April as a way to encourage the public to become organ, eye and tissue donors and to celebrate those people who have been given a second chance at life through organ donation. Every 18 minutes someone dies in the United States waiting for an organ.
“We at Houston Methodist strongly believe in the gift of life and this is just a small way we can show our support for organ donation and transplantation,” said Chris Siebenaler, CEO at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.
“More than 120,000 Americans, including 13,000 Texans, are currently awaiting organs. More than 3,300 of those are in the Houston area,” said Ashish Saharia, transplant and general surgeon on staff at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. “Any way we can bring awareness to the importance of organ donation is something we are happy to do.”
In addition, tables will be set up at the hospital throughout the month that will allow the public to pick up materials and talk to experts to learn more about organ donation and transplantation.
To sign up to become an organ donor, log on to donatelifetexas.org.