Local News
Organ donor flag going up at Gundersen this week
Man’s death means life for others through donation
Not often does the flag get raised at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse. This week, however, it was. A special flag ceremony to honor the gift of several organs from a man who died as a result of an accidental shooting.
Seth Barna is the organ and tissue donation liaison at Gundersen and said the flag raising marks something pretty significant.
“In the likes of certain tragedy and respects of a family that’s lost a loved one,” Barna said, “and the fact that they’re able to give those organs to someone else, is the greatest gift that is possible.”
The flag raising only happens 12-15 times per year, Barna noted. He’s urging everyone to register as an organ donor to prevent your family from having to make those decisions in a time of grief.
“We feel its very important to honor anyone who’s willing to give the gift of life to people who really need it,” Barna said. “(There are) people on the waiting list that are in dire straights and really need to have organ transplants.”