Post Messenger Recorder -

A special quilt honoring the contributions of tissue donors and their families is on display until April 30, at Monroe Clinic, 515 22nd Avenue, Monroe. Monroe Clinic is sponsoring the exhibit to increase donation awareness during April – National Donate Life Month.

The quilt is on loan from RTI Donor Services. The not-for-profit tissue recovery network shares handmade quilts with health care partners like Monroe Clinic to raise awareness of the critical need and importance of organ, tissue and eye donation.

"Monroe Clinic staff members are passionate about donation and enthusiastically support tissue and eye donation," said Miranda Zuhlke, Development Specialist for RTI Donor Services. "They understand how meaningful tissue donation can be for families who have lost loved ones and are motivated to help other families during this difficult time."

The "Rose Garden" themed quilt features 16 beautiful squares for tissue donors, whose families consented to donation of their bone, skin, heart valves, veins, ligaments and tendons. Gifts of tissue are used in more than one million surgeries routinely performed each year in the United States. These tissues may help restore sight through cornea transplantation, provide skin for hernia or mastectomy repair, provide bone tissue for spinal and dental surgeries, restore blood flow through cardiovascular tissues for bypass surgery, or provide heart valve replacements for children and adults.

"This beautiful quilt is a symbol of how donations save and enhance lives," said Suzanne Dornick, Director of Surgical Services at Monroe Clinic. "We hope it encourages people to designate their donor wishes on their state's registry and to celebrate those affected by donation."

According to Zuhlke, since the beginning of the service in 1999, Monroe Clinic donors have potentially impacted the lives of 6,825 tissue recipients.

There are many more eligible tissue donors than organ donors, Zuhlke said. Organ donation usually takes place when brain death has occurred, and transplants must be performed within a short time afterward. Tissue can be recovered within 12 to 24 hours after death and preserved for later use.

"Research has shown that more than 90 percent of Americans believe tissue, organ and eye donation is the right thing to do," said Zuhlke. "Yet, only 30 percent of those same individuals have properly documented their decision to donate according to their states' laws and donation processes."

Illinois and Wisconsin residents can document their donation decisions when renewing a driver license. Wisconsin residents can also register by visiting http://www.YesIWillWisconsin.com. Illinois residents can register at http://www.LifeGoesOn.com.