Hampshire Memorial Hospital Celebrates Donate Life Month

“Why wait?” That was the answer Hillary Connell, LPN Intake Specialist with Valley Health Home Health asked herself last year. The question at hand: should I donate one of my kidneys to help save the life of my co-worker’s daughter!

Surrounded by her family and hospital staff, Hillary spoke at this year’s organ donation flag raising event hosted by Hampshire Memorial Hospital as part of National Donate Life Month.

The daughter of a former HMH employee

Hampshire Memorial Hospital hosted a very special speaker at its flag raising ceremony last week. Marsha Schell of Scherr, WV, (center), who received a kidney transplant three years ago. Marsha, a nurse who worked at Grant Memorial Hospital for more than 25 years, told those gathered how important it is to become an organ donor, because without those who are willing to give the gift of life, she wouldn’t have been standing there that day. “We were in the middle of the COVID pandemic, and I had no idea if or when I would get that call, but my prayers were answered on April 23, 2021,” she recalled. “If not for the selfless gift from my donor and that family, I wouldn’t be able to share my story. Words cannot express how grateful I am,” she continued, adding that one donor can save up to seven lives and enhance the life of up to 70 people.

Representatives from the Center for Organ Recovery & Education, or CORE, were also on hand, providing information on how to become a donor. A special quilt was also on display, which featured unique squares created by a family member or loved one in memory of a special donor. CORE has approximately 50 different Remembrance Quilts, which are available for display at community events, hospitals and other locations throughout the region to help bring home the importance of registering to become an organ and tissue donor. For more information on how you can give the gift of life, click here.