The Circle of Life

The circle of life begins and ends everyday for many within the walls of this hospital. Tears of joy and tears of sorrow are shed as people experience a wide range of events from the birth of a new child to the loss of a loved one.

But for some, the circle of life does not stop with the end of one’s life; rather it continues through the life of another through organ and tissue donation.

Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, together with LifeGift, has created the “Wall of Life” to recognize and honor the many mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, grandparents and many others who gave the ultimate gift – the gift of life. This precious gift completes the circle of life and further extends the legacy of each individual.

In addition to recognizing those who gave life, the wall also recognizes those who received it through the precious gift of kidney transplants. These recipients are here today because a family – deep in sorrow and grief – had a heart big enough to say “yes” to organ and tissue donation, passing on the gift of life. At the same time, we also honor a different type of donor – a living donor.

Living donors are people who are healthy enough to donate a single kidney so that someone else might be freed from the confines of dialysis and resume normal life. Living donors do not always donate their kidneys to family members. They may also donate to a perfect stranger simply because they can.

If the world had more people and more families like the ones we are honoring with the “Wall of Life,” the national waiting list for lifesaving organs would not exceed 108,000. Nor would there be a shortage of life-enhancing tissue.

Created by Rebecca Low, a local Fort Worth artist, the wall depicts a man, a woman and a child. In essence, these figures represent everyone – mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, you and me. The figures are linked together by a ribbon and surrounded by doves representing peace, love and the miracle of life. Most importantly, the wall carries the names of those who have given the gift of life and those who received that precious gift.

I hope that you will take some time out of your busy schedule and stop by the “Wall of Life” located in the main lobby in the alcove just past the gift shop. I hope that the “Wall of Life” will inspire you to say “yes” to organ and tissue donation, continuing the circle of life.

Amanda Williams
Donation Clinical Specialist
LifeGift