JPS Health Network hosted a LifeGift Flag Raising Ceremony on Monday, April 10, to celebrate National Donate Life Month and honor donors and their families who have given and received life through organ donations. More than 100,000 people are waiting for a transplant, so celebrating this moment is special.
"I want to thank the JPS leadership team and staff because working with JPS allows us to create a culture of donation where we can provide the opportunity for donations compassionately. Raising the donate life flag today celebrates so many wonderful things that have come from many dark and sad days of loss," Kevin Myer, LifeGift, CEO. "With our friends at JPS and the generous people of Fort Worth, we offer hope, which means that good things can come from any situation."
At the event, members from the Fort Worth Police Department joined JPS to pay tribute to Garrett Hull, a Fort Worth Police Officer who lost his life in 2018 in the line of duty. Despite losing his life, his commitment to serving the people of his community did not stop. Hull was an organ donor and saved multiple lives through his decision to donate before his death. Hull's wife, Sabrina Hull, had the honor of raising the LifeGift flag to celebrate and honor the gift of life.
"After we got the news that Garrett was brain dead, I don't think I realized what happened next, but I had all of the support, not only our family and the officers, but all of you here at JPS and LifeGift. They came to me and said that Garrett made the heroic decision to donate all of his organs and tissue that could be used for someone else in the future. So, Garrett was not only a hero and saved lives while alive, but he continued to even after his death," Sabrina Hull said. "Honestly, it was hard because no one wants their loved ones not to be whole. I almost resented it, but then I learned about all the people that would get to live to see the next day because of Garrett's decision. That changed my perspective and how I went through grief. I'm so proud to have called him my husband and the father of our children."
Donating life is a special gift; the process touches everyone on our multidisciplinary team, from our first responders to our caregivers. Dr. Rajesh Gandhi, Medical Director of Trauma Services, shares that he was humbled to reflect on the gift of organ donation made by brave families and to pay tribute to recipients.
"I have been here since 2007, and when I first moved to Fort Worth, I was told that this city and this area has the highest per capita monetary donation to not-for-profit organizations. That spirit of donation is magnified when we look at organ donation," Dr. Gandhi said. “I come here to thank all those who've donated life to others and their family for their sacrifices. I want to thank all those community leaders, certainly all of our people in blue, who risk their lives daily. I appreciate that every day, and we certainly appreciate you coming and being here today.”