Every ten minutes, someone is added to the transplant waiting list, totaling nearly 114,000 people nationally.  West Virginia University Medicine has partnered with the Center for Organ Recovery and Education (CORE) in an effort to raise awareness of organ, tissue, and cornea donation and inspire people to register to be donors.  The finishing touches for their newly-installed Donor Memorial Wall are being done this week and Bridgeport’s Alexis Broslawsky Behrens is the one responsible for designing the wall.

 

For nearly 30 years, Behrens has been an interior designer for WVU, and was named Project Manager of the Donor Memorial Wall.  When it came to selecting an image for the wall, she did not hesitate to work with famed West Virginia photographer, Kent Mason.  Mason’s work is featured throughout the Ruby Memorial Hospital and perfectly captures the essence of the Mountain State while instilling a sense of calmness within the hospital.

 

The design took Behrens and her team around nine months to create, with the official unveiling taking place during National Donate Life Month in April.  The wall recognizes those individuals and families who have donated organs, tissue or corneas to those in need.  Because WVU Medicine is committed to greater participation with CORE, a permanent donor wall was suggested as a way to respect those who have given life.

 

J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital is recognized among hospitals as a platinum level facility for incorporating education and organ donation registration into the hospital’s core mission statement. 

 

“It was an honor to design the memorial wall and work with a team dedicated to giving life,” said Behrens, who is currently working on a project with the Center for Hope and Healing at Mylan Park.  “The lighting will be added this week and it will be one of the first things people see when they enter the lobby, reminding them of the importance of registering as a donor.”