Mercy hosts unveiling, dedication of organ donor memorial wall

Mercy Medical Center extends an invitation to the community to attend the unveiling and dedication of its new organ donor memorial wall. The event takes place on Thurs., April 18 at 4 p.m. on the mezzanine level of Mercy's Lundy Pavilion – 1st floor.

The memorial wall is intended to raise awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation and will serve as a place where family and friends of those who donate may find comfort and a place for reflection.

Local artists Lisa Lindley and Suzy McGrane-Hop designed and completed the memorial wall. They were selected from a pool of applicants as part of a design contest last fall. The memorial wall project is funded by a grant from the Iowa Department of Public Health.

Currently, there are approximately 600 individuals in Iowa on the waiting list for organ donations and more than 127,000 people registered as organ donors through the Iowa Donor Network. Together with the community, Mercy is hoping to increase the number of people registered in Linn County. Organ and tissue donor information will be available at the dedication event. For more information or to register as a donor, visit www.mercycare.org/organdonor.

April is National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Month.

Photo caption: Local artists Lisa Lindley and Suzy McGrane-Hop are creating the donor memorial wall at Mercy Medical Center.