MUNSTER | Area families are invited to join Community Healthcare System staff members and Gift of Hope representatives at an annual ceremony to honor organ and tissue donors.
This year’s Rose Ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road.
Roses that are personally dedicated at the ceremony will be used to make up the Donate Life float in the 2013 Rose Parade. Transplant recipients also have an opportunity to relate to the families how the donor’s gift has impacted their lives.
Each of the roses sponsored by Community Hospital in Munster, St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago and St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart will carry tags with messages of love from the donor families.
“These dedicated roses and the tributes they carry add special meaning not only for the families of our organ and tissue donors, but serve to inspire others to become organ, eye and tissue donors as well,” said John Gorski, chief operating officer for Community Healthcare System.
“Every day at the hospitals of Community Healthcare System, we witness the powerful ways in which tissue donations touch lives.”
"Journeys of the Heart" is the name of Donate Life’s 2013 Rose Parade float entry. It serves to inspire all Americans to join in and consider organ, eye and tissue donation.
To coincide with the 2013 Rose Parade theme “Oh, the Places You’ll Go,” the 10th Donate Life parade entry will transport 32 riders representing deceased organ, eye and tissue donors, living donors and transplant recipients. A pathway of looping hearts will be lined with 72 memorial floragraph portraits of donors who are remembered every step of the way.
Indiana residents can register their intent to be organ and tissue donors while obtaining or renewing their driver's license. Registration also is accepted at www.donatelifeindiana.org.
For more information about this year’s event, contact Connie Jusko at cjusko@comhs.org or (219) 852-6411, or Jana Lacera at jlacera@comhs.org or (219) 836-6862.
Please Wait…