SPECIAL RECOGNITION

AMONG THOSE honored for their efforts on behalf of organ donation are, top row, left to right: Jeff Sadowsky, MD, Intensivist, Orlando Regional Medical Center; Peter A. Pappas, MD, Trauma Surgeon, Holmes Regional Medical Center; Robert Metzger, MD, TransLife Medical Director; and Michael Angelis, MD, Transplant Surgeon, Florida Hospital Transplant Center. BOTTOM ROW, left to right: Audrey Harling, Hospital & Professional Relations Coordinator, TransLife; Nicki Andersen, RN, ED/Trauma Manager, Holmes Regional Medical Center, Lynn Norton, RN, Educator, Arnold Palmer Hospital; Vanessa Bowman, Hospital & Professional Relations Coordinator, TransLife; Denise Northcutt, RN, Clinical Transplant Coordinator, Florida Hospital Transplant Center; and Carol J. Rumsey, Assistant Director, Hospital & Professional Relations, TransLife.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Holmes Regional Medical Center and TransLife, East Central Florida's designated organ donor program, recently received top honors by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for their efforts and success in organ donation.

Holmes Regional Medical Center ended 2008 with a 93 percent donation rate, significantly surpassing the national goal and resulting in 46 transplanted organs from critically ill patients.

Dr. Peter Pappas

"Trauma surgeons view every life as a precious one, dedicating ourselves to caring for those in often terrible and utterly unexpected circumstances," said Dr. Peter Pappas, Health First Trauma Surgeon.

"Sadly, despite all our efforts, not all patients can be saved.  In those hours of unimaginable pain and grief, I have seen the idea of organ donation bring comfort to loved ones.  Good collaboration between hospitals and organ donor programs, like TransLife, provide a crucial resource for family and loved ones.

"For many, the greatest act of love is in giving, and the thought that others can receive life out of such great loss brings a sense of meaning to tragedy," said Dr. Pappas.

TransLife is a  federally-designated Organ Procurement Organization for all hospitals in the 10-county Central Florida area, and serves more than 3.3 million people. At the time of donation, TransLife becomes a critical link between a donor and possible recipients. TransLife's responsibilities include the recovery, preservation and distribution of donated organs to critically ill patients.

Today, more than 100,000 children and adults await organs. To learn more about donation CLICK HERE or call 800-44DONOR.

CLICK HERE FOR RELATED STORY

HOLMES REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER in Brevard County, Florida is home to one of just 22 trauma centers in Florida, a regional Level II center that opened 10 years ago.

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