Floyd County Medical Center honors donors at start of National Donate Life Month

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

Floyd County Medical Center celebrated organ donors with a flag-raising ceremony to usher in National Donate Life Month on Monday, April 1.

Honored guests of the event were FCMC employees Marianne Nielsen and Beck Reimers, sisters who have been on each side of organ donation.

Four years ago, Nielsen was the recipient of a kidney after being diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease. A hereditary disease, Nielsen was the one of her four siblings that “drew the short straw,” she said. However, her family was there in her time of need.

“For a lot of years I knew that if I didn’t have it, I’d sign up to give one,” said Reimers.

While not a match herself, Reimers donated one of her own kidneys to the donor bank, which allowed Nielsen to get bumped up on the donor list, saving her a five-year wait that could have left her on dialysis or worse.

“She signed up right away to help me. She gave one up for me so I could get one sooner,” said Nielsen, tearing up as she expressed her appreciation for both her sister and the donor of the kidney she ultimately received. “Because of these guys I’ve had four more years with my kids.”

Also featured at the ceremony was Kay Winkelman, who shared her own organ donation story.

Following the untimely death of her son in 1995, Winkelman has been able to take solace knowing that his corneas were able to be donated.

“It has always helped me in my grief process to know that his death helped someone else,” said Winkelman.

With 600 people in Iowa alone waiting on a life-saving organ transplant, Donate Life Month brings attention to the importance of organ donation and the importance of donors both living and deceased.

The hospital raised a flag to signify the start of Donate Life Month and will have a Donate Life Tree on display in public areas where people can add the names of loved ones who have given or received an organ or tissue.