TidalHealth Nanticoke holds Donate Life Month flag-raising ceremony

TidalHealth Nanticoke held its annual Donate Life Month flag-raising ceremony last Wednesday at the flagpole in front of the TidalHealth Nanticoke Emergency Department in Seaford. According to TidalHealth Nanticoke President and TidalHealth Vice President Penny Short, the event, attended by donors and donor families as well as hospital staff, was held to show the importance of organ and tissue donation.

Director of Critical Care Services Kim Pickinpaugh spoke of the team approach to the process.“Your compassion and care assist a family’s decision and without you a transplant wouldn’t be possible,” she told staff members.

TidalHealth Nanticoke President and TidalHealth Vice President Penny Short is shown speaking during the Donate Life Month flag-raising ceremony last week in Seaford. Photo by Mike McClure

Hospital Services Coordinator for the Gift of Life Donor Program Brianna Callahan said the program’s theme is: trees as a symbol of life and connection. In 2025, TidalHealth Nanticoke had four organ donators with seven kidneys, two livers, and two lungs along with 21 people enhanced through tissue donation.

Aly Weikert, a volunteer ambassador for the Gift of Life Donor Program, spoke about how her mom saved four people through organ donation. Weikert’s mom was taken to the hospital with stroke like symptoms. The family chose organ donation and were able to spend two extra days with her.

The family was able to donate kidneys to two separate recipients plus lungs, liver, corneas and bone tissue. Weikert’s mom’s pancreas was used for Type 1 Diabetes trials and other tissues and organs were utilized for medical research.

“Organ donation gave us a sense of peace. It gave us extra time with our mom. We know she didn’t die in vain because she was able to save her recipients,” said Weikert. “There’s so much pride that we feel that our loved ones were able to save lives.”