SAN ANTONIO, Texas, May 4, 2024 - Over 500 Central and South Texans gathered on Saturday, May 4, 2024 to remember their loved ones during an annual ceremony held by Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA).
This is the 4th Annual Wall of Heroes Ceremony held by TOSA.
At the ceremony, the names and dates of donation are commemorated through hundreds of medallions adoring the physical Wall of Heroes in the Donor Memorial Garden, located just outside San Antonio's TOSA headquarters. This peaceful garden and its wall serves as a poignant reminder of the profound impact of organ donation and is open to the public by appointment Monday through Friday.
“It's such a sacrifice and a gift that your families and your donors give to people like us,” liver recipient and TOSA volunteer Matt Langley said. “None of this could have happened without my donor and my donor's family.”
Other notable speakers at this event included TOSA CEO Joseph Nespral, Lemuel Bradshaw from United Tissue Resources and Adriana Almanza, TOSA's Director of Donor Family Aftercare.
This year's Wall of Heroes Ceremony can be viewed in full below.
According to Donate Life Texas, there are currently 10,000 people in Texas awaiting a lifesaving organ transplant. Every 9 minutes, someone else in the nation is added to the waiting list, highlighting the critical need for registered organ donors.
Texas Organ Sharing Alliance encourages individuals to take the following steps to support organ donation:
1. Register as an organ, eye and tissue donor at TOSA1.org
2. Discuss your decision to be an organ donor with your family and friends
3. Volunteer with TOSA to encourage others to sign up and save lives