When Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and the New York Organ Donor Network marked the end of National Donate Life Month with a flag raising to honor organ donors recently, it was a family affair.
At the ceremony, on Friday, April 30, it was Dr. Anthony DiMaria, Trustee and Clinical Director of the Hospital’s Trump Pavilion nursing home who did the honors, accompanied by Mrs. Hilda Rodriguez.
Her son, Jose’s heart beats in DiMaria’s chest.
DiMaria and his wife Connie, Rodriguez and Jose’s widow, Ramona Nuñez stood close, as he told the story of how his life was saved by organ donation and encouraged everyone to register to donate life.
The Hospital, located at 8900 Van Wyck Expressway in Jamaica has been a leader in organ donation success in recent years, ranking first in organ donation for downstate New York in 2004 and receiving the Health and Human Services Department’s Organ Donor Medal of Honor in 2007.
Throughout the year, residents can become organ, eye and tissue donors enrolling in the state’s Department of Health-administered organ donor registry at www.SaveLivesNewYork.org.
Most people enroll in the registry when they apply for or renew a driver’s license, according to Elaine Berg, President and CEO of the New York network. “However the average renewal date for licenses in New York State has been extended to every 10 years and may account in large part for the registry’s slow growth,” she surmised.
Major religions are also supportive of organ donation, according to the Network. For more information, visit www.DonateLifeNY.org.
