Columbus, Ohio (W.C.M.H.) — April is Donate Life Month, and Ohio’s Wexner Medical Center celebrated the gift of organ donation Sunday morning at the 16th Annual Buckeye Windmill Tree Planting and Transplant Reunion.
The windmill has one shaft and eight spokes, symbolizing how one person can save up to eight lives through organ donation.
The lawn in front of the hospital was filled with 12,500 windmills. He has had one for every organ transplant performed at Wexner Medical Center since 1967. One of his windmills represented Steve Robison, who received a kidney transplant.
Steve and his brother Mike Robison spoke to NBC4 in November just before the big game between Ohio State and Michigan. Mike has always been an avid Buckeyes fan, and Steve grew up rooting for the team up north.
Mike made the selfless decision to donate one of his kidneys to his brother Steve, who had kidney disease.
Steve, who received a new kidney from his brother in December, said: “I’ve felt so much better since having the kidney transplant, which is amazing given my lifestyle.” “I am as active as ever.”
Steve said the surgery went well and Mike, who came to Columbus from Arizona to donate, is functioning well despite having one kidney.
“He just surprised me at first and could have knocked me over with a feather. But that’s what brothers do for each other. That’s what families do for each other. ” said Steve. “It’s the unwritten law of love.”
This is the 16th year that thousands of windmills have been displayed in front of the hospital. Dr. Ken Washburn, director of the Wexner Medical Center Transplant Center, said it is extremely rewarding to see the people his team has saved.
“To my donors, I say, ‘Thank you, donors.’ To my donors, I say, ‘Thank you,'” Dr. Washburn said.
This is Steve’s first year working with windmills, and he said it’s surreal to see how many lives have been saved through organ donation just here in central Ohio.
“This is an amazing demonstration of not only how many people donate their organs on an annual basis, but also how many donors are willing to give the gift of life,” Steve said.
The windmill will remain planted in the ground throughout April.
