Jefferson Hospital Holds Flag Raising Ceremony for National Donate Life Month

Laura Gillum of Canonsburg, Nationally-Recognized Advocate for Organ Donation, to be Featured Speaker at Today’s Event

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Jefferson Hospital will recognize National Donate Life Month by hosting its annual flag raising ceremony today, Thursday, April 8 at 11 a.m. The event will feature the powerful story of Laura Gillum of Canonsburg, an altruistic donor, member of a donor family and nationally-recognized organ donation advocate, as well as remarks from the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) and hospital leadership.

Laura’s Story:
Laura Gillum of Canonsburg will share a moving tribute to her son and organ donor, 2-year-old Dean “Burrito” Gillum at today’s flag raising ceremony.

In 2015, Dean tragically passed away after a horrific drowning accident in the family’s backyard swimming pool. The Gillums turned their own tragedy into hope for another family when they made the decision to donate Dean’s organs to others in need including six-month-old Lennon Cureton of South Carolina who was born with a congenital heart disease. In 2017, Laura appeared on the nationally-syndicated television show, “The Real” where she met Lennon for the first time and listened to his heartbeat.

In April 2019, to further extend Dean’s legacy, Laura altruistically donated her kidney at Allegheny General Hospital. A few weeks later, she met her recipient, Brian Cox of Aliquippa, in a surprising reveal event at the hospital.

To this day, Laura continues to be a fierce advocate in the organ donation community.

WHO:

• Lindsey Heidelbach, assistant nurse manager
• Meredith Aumer, director of emergency services
• Mark Gannon, MD, chief medical officer
• Joe Weber, chief financial officer, CORE
• Laura Gillum, living donor and donor family

WHAT:
A flag-raising ceremony to honor those who gave the gift of life and call attention to the significant need for more people to register as organ donors.

WHEN:
Thursday, April 8 at 11 a.m.

WHERE:
Jefferson Hospital
565 Coal Valley Rd.
Jefferson Hills, PA 15025

WHY:
More than 110,000 people are awaiting organ transplants in the U.S., including more than 2,500 people in western Pennsylvania. National Donate Life Month, celebrated every April, encourages more Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and recognizes those who have saved lives through donation.

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