“Leaving a Legacy”: Trinity Health Of New England honors Donate Life Month

Saint Mary's Hospital colleagues walk around campus in honor of Donate Life Month.

Saint Francis Hospital colleagues participate in flag raising ceremony for Donate Life Month.

On Tuesday, April 28, Saint Mary’s marked Donate Life Month with a walk and flag-raising ceremony. The events aligned with this year’s Donate Life theme, “Leave a Legacy,” and brought together colleagues, hospital leadership and members of New England Donor Services. Many participants wore blue and green, the colors that represent organ, eye and tissue donations. As a group, they walked around the hospital campus to honor donors and recognize the lasting difference the gift of organ donation has on patients and families.

Several leaders at Saint Mary’s shared personal thoughts on what donation means to them. Speakers included Husnain Kermalli, MD, Chief Medical Officer; Shawna Edwards, RN, MSN, DNP, Chief Nursing Officer; Lisa Ciarlo, RN, BSN, Clinical Manager CCU, CVU, Respiratory Care Services; and Chaplain Judy Bellemare. Their remarks touched on both the clinical and human sides of donation.

Angelo Bernardo from New England Donor Services closed the event by highlighting how donation brings hope and healing to recipients and offers comfort to donor families during difficult times.

Saint Francis Hospital continued this shared message on Thursday, April 30, with its own ceremony and flag-raising in recognition of Donate Life Month. Nurses from the ICU and operating room spoke about their experiences supporting donors and families, describing how moments of hope can emerge even in spaces marked by grief. Their stories reflected the deep responsibility and meaning of this work.

The Saint Francis ceremony also featured powerful remarks from donors and recipients. Lindsay Vigue, Director of Donate Life Connecticut and a living kidney donor, shared how choosing to donate transformed her life. Kidney transplant recipient Priya Drigpal and heart transplant recipient Andrew Jones spoke about their journeys and expressed heartfelt gratitude for the gifts that allowed them to continue living. The ceremony concluded with the Donate Life flag raised in the Remembrance Way garden.

Every April, Donate Life Month is celebrated across the country to raise awareness and encourage people to register as organ, eye, and tissue donors. It is also a time to honor donors who have saved lives and to recognize the colleagues who support patients, families, and the donation community.

If you are interested in donating or learning more about Donate Life, you can register here: Registration - Donate Life America