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Providence St. Joseph Hospital Orange celebrates 1,200 transplants

April 13, 2023

In honor of National Donate Life Month, more than 1,200 butterflies were displayed across Providence St. Joseph Hospital’s lawn to commemorate the 1,200 organ transplants the hospital has performed in the last 50 years.

And as the hospital celebrates the 50th anniversary of its transplant program, it announced it has been approved to do even more soon: Providence St. Joseph is getting ready to begin performing pancreas transplants. The hospital is already scheduling candidates with physicians and plans to begin procedures within six months, said James Chisum, a spokesperson.

More than 1,200 butterflies cover the lawn at Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, CA on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. The butterflies represent the number of organ transplants performed during the last 50 years at the hospital. April is National Donate Life Month. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A flag is raised for National Donate Life Month during a ceremony at Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, CA on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. More than 1,200 butterflies representing the number of organ transplants performed during the last 50 years at the hospital are also on display. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Sue Henke, kidney transplant recipient and hospital caregiver, pauses while talking about her transplant during a ceremony at Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, CA on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. More than 1,200 butterflies representing the number of organ transplants performed during the last 50 years at the hospital are also on display. April is National Donate Life Month. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A doctor holds one of the more than 1,200 butterflies that are placed on the lawn at Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, CA on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. The butterflies represent the number of organ transplants performed during the last 50 years at the hospital. April is National Donate Life Month. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Doctors and officials watch as a flag is raised for National Donate Life Month during a ceremony at Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, CA on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. More than 1,200 butterflies representing the number of organ transplants performed during the last 50 years at the hospital are also on display. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Irina Ngo, R.N., adjusts one of 1,200 butterflies at Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, CA on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. The butterflies represent the number of organ transplants performed during the last 50 years at the hospital. April is National Donate Life Month. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Some diabetic patients who become dependent on insulin are prone to kidney failure, said Yasir Qazi, a transplant nephrologist with Providence St. Joseph. In those cases, Qazi said, the best option for both quality of life and years of life is for those patients to undergo a kidney and pancreas transplant simultaneously.

“The kidney transplant takes them off dialysis, and the pancreas basically cures the diabetes,” Qazi said. “So you walk in being a diabetic and come out not being a diabetic and not having to be on any insulin or medications. We’re excited to now be approved for kidney and pancreas transplants.”

During the ceremony in Orange, a green and blue “Donate a Life” flag was raised in honor of the celebratory month.

“We fly the flag 365 days a year,” said Richard Rodriguez, a manager at the kidney transplant center at Providence St. Joseph Hospital. “It’s a constant reminder of those who have paid the ultimate price and were able to donate … but it’s also a constant reminder of the fact that there are so many people that need transplantation of tissue organs.”

Rodriguez hopes this ceremony will inspire more folks to register to become a donor.

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