Flag raising ceremony for Donate Life Month at HCA Florida Blake Hospital
In a moving ceremony, the Donate Life flag was raised to honor organ and tissue donors, recipients and their families.
Bradenton, FL — HCA Florida Blake Hospital held a Donate Life Flag Raising Ceremony on Thursday, April 11, in recognition of Donate Life Month. In a moving ceremony, the Donate Life flag was raised to honor organ and tissue donors, recipients and their families.
Among those present was heart transplant recipient Steve Bradley, whose personal journey exemplifies the profound significance of organ donation. “When I get the chance to share my story,” shared Steve, “it’s such a wonderful and challenging thing to recognize how incredibly grateful I am and how incredibly sad at the same time.”
Steve’s journey began with a diagnosis of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), a genetic heart disease that tragically claimed his brother's life. In December 2020, after seeing specialists from around the country, Steve faced the frightening reality of needing a heart transplant to survive. He was placed on the transplant list in April 2021, and awaited the life-changing call.
That call came on Friday, August 13th, 2021, while Steve was enjoying time with a friend. Overwhelmed by messages upon leaving a coffee shop where his phone had no signal, Steve received the news — he had been matched with a donor heart. "It’s a call that you can’t imagine," Steve reflected, his voice filled with emotion. "That began the next chapter of my life."
With the expertise of medical professionals and the generosity of an organ donor, Steve underwent a successful heart transplant. Six months later, he completed his first 5K run, marking a significant milestone in his recovery. Since then, Steve has embraced a vibrant life, participating in multiple races and setting his sights on future runs, including at the Transplant Games of America and World Transplant Games in Germany.
Chief Executive Officer of HCA Florida Blake Hospital, Steve Young, expressed pride in the hospital's collaboration with LifeLink to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation. "By hosting this flag raising ceremony," Young stated, "we hope to honor the generosity of those who have given the gift of life and to inspire our community to consider becoming organ donors."
Since the beginning of 2024, Blake Hospital has witnessed the selflessness of three organ donors, collectively saving nine lives.
National Donate Life Month, observed annually in April, serves as a reminder of the transformative power of donation. Throughout the month, HCA Florida Blake Hospital will proudly display the Donate Life flag, symbolizing the spirit of generosity and honoring the enduring legacy of organ and tissue donors.
For further information about organ and tissue donation or to register as an organ donor, please visit the Donate Life Florida website.