Donate Life Month Recognized at Thursday’s UTMC Flag-Raising Ceremony

Donate Life Month Recognized at Thursday's UTMC Flag-Raising Ceremony

The consistent spring rain tapered off just in time for the annual Donate Life Month flag raising at the University of Toledo Medical Center on Thursday morning. The event serves as a kickoff for Donate Life Month in partnership with Life Connection of Ohio and Solvita.

"This annual tradition reminds us that even in moments of loss, there is extraordinary hope, the power to change lives," said Kristin Calkins, director of trauma services UTMC.

Along with raising awareness for the constant need for registered organ and tissue donors, the event also honors organ donors and their families and celebrates donation recipients and their second chances at life.

"The true heroes behind the miracles are the donors who gave the gift of life and the families who made all of that possible," said Abby Brentkinger, director of tissue services at Solvita Tissue Bank

This year, the Donate Life flag was raised by Kandy Takas, who received a lifesaving kidney at UTMC in 2000. Takas praised the support she received from Life Connection of Ohio and UTMC staff, who were crucial during her transplant experience.

Takas said anyone on the waiting list should reach out to those experts.

"Talk to reliable sources," she said. "If that's reaching out to Life Connection, reaching out to the University, reaching out to The National Kidney Foundation; there are a lot of reliable people who have correct information."

According to Life Connection of Ohio, more than 100,000 Americans and 3,000 Ohioans are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. Every 48 hours, an Ohioan dies while waiting for a transplant.

UTMC is known for having the shortest waitlist time in the area, with an average of less than four months for kidney transplants. In 2025, UTMC performed 193 kidney transplants and two kidney and pancreas transplants, with six of those kidney donations coming from a living donor.

"That means that every four or five days we are touching someone's life," said Dr. Obi Ekwenna, urology transplant surgeon at UTMC. "And that cannot happen without the gift."

After the Donate Life flag was raised, Takas said she hopes sharing her story as a 26-year organ recipient will encourage people in Northwest Ohio that there is plenty of life to live after receiving a donated organ.

"Remain positive, trust the process," she said. "You've been given a gift and that second chance. Use it, live it."

To register as an organ donor, visit the Donate Life website.