MONROE - A quilt honoring the contributions of tissue donors and their families is on display until Thursday at Monroe Clinic, 515 22nd Ave. Monroe Clinic is sponsoring the exhibit to increase donation awareness during April, which is National Donate Life Month.
The quilt is on loan from RTI Donor Services. The not-for-profit tissue recovery network shares handmade quilts with health care partners like Monroe Clinic to raise awareness of the critical need and importance of organ, tissue and eye donation.
The "Rose Garden" themed quilt features 16 beautiful squares for tissue donors, whose families consented to donation of their bone, skin, heart valves, veins, ligaments and tendons.
According to Miranda Zuhlke, development specialist for RTI Donor Services, since the beginning of the service in 1999, Monroe Clinic donors have potentially impacted the lives of 6,825 tissue recipients.
There are many more eligible tissue donors than organ donors. Organ donation usually takes place when brain death has occurred, and transplants must be performed within a short time afterward. Tissue can be recovered within 12 to 24 hours after death and preserved for later use.
Illinois and Wisconsin residents can document their donation decisions when renewing a driver license. Wisconsin residents can also register at www.YesIWillWisconsin.-com. Illinois residents can register at www.LifeGoesOn.com.
The quilt is on loan from RTI Donor Services. The not-for-profit tissue recovery network shares handmade quilts with health care partners like Monroe Clinic to raise awareness of the critical need and importance of organ, tissue and eye donation.
The "Rose Garden" themed quilt features 16 beautiful squares for tissue donors, whose families consented to donation of their bone, skin, heart valves, veins, ligaments and tendons.
According to Miranda Zuhlke, development specialist for RTI Donor Services, since the beginning of the service in 1999, Monroe Clinic donors have potentially impacted the lives of 6,825 tissue recipients.
There are many more eligible tissue donors than organ donors. Organ donation usually takes place when brain death has occurred, and transplants must be performed within a short time afterward. Tissue can be recovered within 12 to 24 hours after death and preserved for later use.
Illinois and Wisconsin residents can document their donation decisions when renewing a driver license. Wisconsin residents can also register at www.YesIWillWisconsin.-com. Illinois residents can register at www.LifeGoesOn.com.
