April recognized as Donate Life Month during Tyler event

TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - The month of April is recognized as Donate Life month.

This month is a time to dedicate and to raise awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation.

It is also a time to recognize registering donors and honor donors and recipients.

CHRISTUS Health with Southwest Transplant Alliance honored this month together with a ceremony.

Last year, 25 organ donors saved 73 lives and 48 tissue donors impacted 75 lives per donor. That’s 3,600 recipients. So far this year, six donors saved 24 lives and 19 tissue donors impacted 90 lives.

“My dad was born with a Bicuspid valve and he had to have complete resection of the ascending aortic arch,” says Matthew Peterson, the Hospital Service Coordinator for Southwest Transplant Alliance. “So when they went in, they replaced the heart valve and that gave us 10 more years with my dad.”

Both CHRISTUS Health with Southwest Transplant Alliance revealed plans to build a ‘Garden of Hope’ at CHRISTUS Health in Tyler where it will honor those who have made the decision to save lives through organ donation.