City Council To Discuss Senior Tax Freeze Tuesday. See Our Legal Notices.

Donate Life Flag Raising Events Honor Erlanger’s 36 Organ Donors In 2018

  • Friday, April 5, 2019

Erlanger Health System, Tennessee Donor Services and LifeShare of the Carolinas representatives as well as organ donor families and recipients raised the “Donate Life” flag at Erlanger Western Carolina, Bledsoe, East, North and Baroness Hospitals to recognize and honor 36 Erlanger patients who gave the ultimate gift of life as organ donors in 2018. Thanks to the organ donations of these 36 individuals, 130 lives were saved last year.   

Erlanger Health System joins thousands of hospitals and organizations across the nation by flying the flag in recognition of Donor Awareness Month and in honor of the uncountable lives touched by organ, eye and tissue donation. 

Guest speakers include:

Krysta Davis shared the story of her daughter.  Rylei was diagnosed with anencephaly when Krysta was 18 weeks into her pregnancy.  Krysta decided to carry to term so her child could be a donor and help other families.  Rylei beat all odds as she was expected to live only hours but lived seven days.  She donated her heart valves for transplant and lungs for research. 

Deandra Shaver’s family shared her story.  Deandra, who was a donor this past January, passed away following a seizure event.  The family asked for two directed donations; one to Deandra’s mother-in-law and one to a friend at church.  She was a match for both recipients and both patients received the life-saving gift of kidney transplants.  One of the recipients was transplanted at Erlanger.

In 2018, Erlanger East Hospital had seven tissue donors and three organ referrals – a gift that can improve the lives of 50 or more individuals. Jerri Gun, the mother of Rocky Trammell, shared her personal story of how organ donation has impacted her life. Rocky Trammell was 20 years old when he was in a fatal car accident in June of 2014. Several days later, he gave the ultimate gift of life to several people through organ donation. One of those individuals, Kinah Sander, was the recipient of one of Rocky’s kidneys.  Jerri Gunn and Kinah met in October 2014 and have remained friends ever since.

Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital, along with LifeShare of the Carolinas, held an event recognizing and honoring their organ donors. In 2017 and 2018, four donors who were treated at Erlanger Western Carolina provided organ, eye and tissue donations for 42 recipients from 13 states and South Korea.

Currently, Erlanger Health System is the second leading donor hospital system in Tennessee.  More than 113,000 people in the United States are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant and more than 3,000 of those live in Tennessee.  Every day 20 people die waiting for a transplant, and every 10 minutes a new name will be added to the list.  

For more information on organ and tissue donation, visit www.donatelife.net

Living Well
“Moments Of Grace” Summit To Offer Support, Education And Hope For Dementia Caregivers
“Moments Of Grace” Summit To Offer Support, Education And Hope For Dementia Caregivers
  • 7/17/2025

The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence, Chattanooga is hosting “Moments of Grace: A Memory Caregiver Summit” – a heartfelt event designed to empower caregivers with knowledge, ... more

Brightli And Centerstone Plan To Merge, Creating Nation’s Largest Nonprofit Provider Of Behavioral Health Services
  • 7/17/2025

Nonprofit behavioral health providers Brightli and Centerstone, have entered into a non-binding agreement with the intent to merge and create a unified organization. The due diligence process ... more

Charter Senior Living Of Chattanooga Celebrates $2 Million Grand Reopening With Community Event On July 31
  • 7/17/2025

Charter Senior Living announced its Grand Reopening Celebration following a transformative $2 million renovation. The event will take place on Thursday, July 31, from 4-6 p.m. at 825 Runyan ... more