Celebrate Donate Life Month at TGH!

For over 50 years, Tampa General Hospital’s Transplant Institute has been a national leader in transplant surgery, dedicated to delivering world-class care and extending our patients’ lives through organ donation. Through innovation and hard work, the Transplant Institute was recently ranked No. 1 in the nation by volume for 2024, with an astounding 889 transplants performed in one year, transforming countless lives.

April is National Donate Life Month, with a mission to raise awareness and support for organ transplant. One TGH patient, Mike Haggard, received a kidney transplant at TGH in 2016 after living with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). He and his wife, Bekki, traveled from Miami to receive care at TGH. Bekki’s brother, Allen Buckhalt, donated the kidney that was transplanted into Mike. 

The Haggards are dedicated to inspiring others to consider living donation and continue to support TGH because of the world-class care Mike received.   

“TGH has saved my life multiple times,” said Mike Haggard. “Now the hospital is inspiring others to save more lives, making everybody better with the TGH standard of excellence.”  

As we continue to grow and save more lives each year, would you consider making a gift to the Transplant Patient Assistance Fund in honor of Donate Life Month? 

The TGH Transplant Institute understands the importance of alleviating financial barriers for our most vulnerable patients. When a patient expresses the need for financial assistance, our social work team helps to determine what is needed to remove barriers and ensure that the patient can focus on treatment and getting better. 

• A gift of $50 could help cover a gas card for a transplant patient traveling to medical appointments 
• A gift of $100 could help pay for a transplant patient family utility bill 
• A gift of $250 could help pay for a hotel stay for a transplant family while their loved one is undergoing treatment 
• A gift of $500 could help pay for a transplant patient family's groceries for one month 
• A gift of $889 in honor of the number of transplants performed in 2024 will help ensure that we can continue to provide world-class care to our transplant patients for years to come 

By contributing to the TGH Transplant Institute Patient Assistance Fund, you will make a profound impact on the lives of transplant patients and their families. All gifts will truly make an impact by directly supporting patients who are facing financial hardship, ensuring they receive the critical care they need during their recovery journey.