Gift of Life flag goes up at Philadelphia children's hospital to highlight National Donate Life Month
Thirteen people die each day waiting for an organ transplant, and the need for more donors is highlighted during National Donate Life Month, which begins Wednesday.
Most organ transplant patients are adults, but last year, there were more than 1,800 lifesaving operations performed on children.
The Gift of Life flag was raised at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia.
To help with the ceremony was 9-year-old Ariana Ugarte, who had a kidney and liver transplant five years ago.
"Now I'm all healthy, so my body is more better," Ariana said.
Her mom, Maria Ugarte, said Ariana was born with kidney failure. When she was 3, Ariana had a double organ transplant at St. Christopher's.
"She was in the operating room for like about 26 hours," Ugarte said. "It was pretty hard. I was scared."
She said they feel lucky because there are currently more than 100,000 people waiting for organ transplants, more than 2,000 of them children.
"Transplants that once seemed impossible are now happening every day," Jackie Giuffrida, with Gift of Life, said.
April is National Donate Life Month to raise awareness that each donor can save eight lives and enhance 75 more.
"Today is really all about honoring those families and patients who have made that decision to donate," Dr. Doug Thompson at St. Christopher's said.
"I can't be more than thankful," Ugarte said. "I thank them every day."
Ugarte said she hopes to someday meet the donor family who made it possible for Ariana to now be thriving in third grade.
"I like in school that I get to meet new friends and get to learn new stuff," Ariana said.
She says she's always happy to be back at the hospital where she received the lifesaving transplants.
"I like meeting my doctors," she said, "and it feels great."
So impressed with the transplant team, Ariana said she eventually wants to become a nurse.
"I just want to say thank you," she said, "and I love all the support."
Ariana is among about 500 children who have had kidney transplants at St. Christopher's.
