ESCONDIDO–Palomar Health In Escondido kicked off Donate Life Month to raise awareness of the importance of organ donations.
Medical staff joined organ donors and recipients at a special celebration outside the center near the flag pole.
Palomar Health nurses Annie Philen and Lisa Hernandez both know the impact an organ donation can have on the recipients. Philen donated a kidney to save her brother’s life and Hernandez’s godson, Christopher Viesca received a kidney from an unknown donor outside the state.
Camp Pendleton Marines were invited to raise the Donate Life flag outside the center, while honoring Marine Corporal Thomas Mertz, who saved four lives by donating his organs after he passed away from a motorcycle accident.
Palomar Medical Center in Escondido and Palomar Center in Poway partnered with Lifesharing San Diego to educate patients and families facing end-of-life decisions on the opportunity to donate their organs to save the lives of others.
Donate Life Month was established by Donate Life America and its partnering organizations in 2003.
