With every donation, the hospital will be lit green and purple to celebrate the gift of life

KANKAKEE, IL (May 1, 2019) - Riverside Medical Center is raising awareness of organ and tissue donation by honoring every donation that occurs at the hospital. Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network serves as the federally designated not-for-profit organ procurement organization that coordinates organ and tissue donation and services to families of donors in the northern three-quarters of Illinois and northwest Indiana.

To honor every organ or tissue donation occurs at Riverside, the hospital will be lit green and purple in commemoration of the gift made by the donor. Additionally, a Gift of Hope flag will be flown outside the medical center before being given to the family of the donor.

Currently there are more than an estimated 113,000 men, women and children on the national transplant waiting list. Every 10 minutes another person is added to the waiting list.

One donor can save up to eight lives, donating their heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, kidneys and intestines. However, only those registered through the state organ/tissue donor registry can have their organs or tissue recovered for use by others. Visit www.ilsos.gov/organdonorregister/ to find out more.