National Donate Life Month flag-raising ceremonies held at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital
Ocala, FL — HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA West Marion Hospital each hosted a special ceremony today with donor program LifeQuest to thank the families of organ donors and honor their loved ones as well as the healthcare professionals who make the gift of life possible.
Speakers at the events included Cory Hebert, hospital services coordinator for LifeQuest, and organ recipient Aaron Rainbolt, who received a kidney and pancreas from a donor three years ago.
“April is National Donate Life Month, and we’ve gathered today to celebrate the folks who in their final moments give the final gift of life. It’s a very difficult time, not only for the families going through the tragedy of losing their loved one but also for the healthcare team that rallies around that family and supports that patient. But also, it’s a time of new beginnings, because on the other side of that loss is hope,” said Hebert. “It’s hard to explain the solace that it can give families to know that it’s not a senseless tragedy—that the loss of their loved one has purpose and meaning.”
Hebert also praised colleagues at both hospitals for their work in facilitating organ donation. “Without the work that you do, organ donation could not happen at all. Period. Full stop,” he said.
Rainbolt told the hospital staff that he was present to express his gratitude to donors and to medical professionals and to encourage organ donation generally.
“I want to thank every one of you for what you do. Your work is appreciated and it doesn’t go unnoticed. I know you often don’t get to meet someone like me and see the end result,” said Rainbolt. “The impact that organ donation has made on my life and my family‘s lives is unbelievable. I got a whole new lease on life.”
HCA Florida Healthcare celebrates National Donate Life Month throughout April to encourage people to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to honor those who have saved countless lives through donation. According to Hebert, HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital combined have facilitated 31 organ donations from the beginning of 2024 through April 10, 2025. Those procedures in total have saved the lives of 93 other people, he added.
“It is incredibly inspiring and meaningful for us at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA West Marion Hospital to facilitate an individual’s final wish to give someone else the gift of a healthier life through organ donation,” said Alan Keesee, chief executive officer of HCA Florida Ocala Hospital. “One organ donor can save as many as eight lives. Please consider registering as an organ donor and share your desire to help others who could benefit from your generosity with your family.”
“These life-saving organ donation procedures that we do are some of the most tender and touching moments of my career,” said Isaiah Zirkle, chief executive officer of HCA Florida West Marion Hospital. “I’m grateful for all of our teams and our partners that enable organ donation to happen, and we have wonderful people who benefit.”
Hebert also presented HCA Florida Ocala Hospital a Platinum Recognition Certificate from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for its work to save and improve lives by promoting organ, eye and tissue donations.
Living donation offers another option for kidney or liver transplant candidates, and it saves two lives: the recipient and the next one on the deceased organ waiting list. Kidney or liver patients who are able to receive a living donor transplant may be able to receive the organ much sooner, often before becoming too sick or starting dialysis. HCA Healthcare is one of the nation’s leading providers of living organ transplants.
According to LifeQuest, the national wait list for organ transplants includes about 104,000 people. More information about HCA Florida Healthcare’s comprehensive organ transplant program.