Who: HCA Florida Memorial Hospital (3625 University Blvd. S.)
What: National Donate Life Month
Why: The importance of organ donation
When: Friday, April 17, 12 p.m.-12:30 p.m.
Where: In front of the hospital’s main entrance at the flagpole
Refreshments will be available in the main lobby following the program
Speakers: Jennifer Kile – Mother of donor son, Cheyenne Seiler.
Cheyenne was 33 (1992-2025) - he gave life to:
- A 15-year-old (right kidney)
- A 53-year-old (heart)
- A 60-year-old (lungs)
- A 70-year-old (left kidney and liver)
- Cheyanne also enhanced life with sight through his gift of eye donation.
Jennifer Dickens – Her health journey started at HCA Florida Memorial Hospital in 2014. She is a liver transplant recipient who at 54, is enjoying a second lease on life which allowed her to watch her daughter graduate from high school and enter college. Back in 2020 she was diagnosed with a life-threatening liver disease, and in 2021 was given only 5 weeks to live. She will share her story of courage and hope.
“Organ donation is a powerful way our community can come together to save lives,” said Christopher Kovacs, Chief Operating Officer of HCA Florida Memorial Hospital. “By registering your decision, you’re helping ensure hope for patients and families in need.”
National Donate Life Month was declared by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and instituted by Donate Life America in 2003 as a time for the nation’s organ and tissue donation and transplantation community to focus its attention on the critical need for lifesaving donors. National Donate Life Month is celebrated throughout the month of April.
“One simple decision can have a life-saving impact,” said Heather Shearer, RN, Administration Director of the ICU at HCA Florida Memorial Hospital. “In under a minute, you can take that step and ensure your driver’s license reflects your donor status.”
LifeQuest Organ Recovery Services, the federally designated organ donor program serving a 36-county region of North Florida, and Memorial Hospital are encouraging Floridians to learn the facts about organ and tissue donation and to join Florida’s donor registry at DonateLifeFlorida.org.
“There are more than 108,000 patients across the country who are on the national transplant waiting list, and more than 6,100 of them are listed at transplant centers in Florida,” said Kathleen Giery, director of donor program development at LifeQuest. “A new person is added to the list every eight minutes, and sadly 20 people pass away each day waiting for the match that never came. Becoming an organ donor is one of the most selfless acts we can do to help others in need,”
In 2025, more than 49,065 patients nationally received lifesaving organ transplants, more than 3,000 of whom were transplanted at Florida centers. There are more than 103,200 patients on the national organ transplant waiting list, and it is estimated that every 10 minutes, another person is added to this list.
For more information about organ and tissue donation or to register your wishes to become a lifesaving donor, visit the Donate Life Florida website.