As you walk into the lobby of a hospital, you see this beautiful tree with golden leaves. As you get closer to the tree, you notice that on each gold leaf there is the name of a person, with a date engraved on it. Not knowing what it is exactly that you are looking at; you find a small donor plaque on the wall that states, “On this tree of life are the names of the very generous people who sacrificed for others.” Donor walls and trees of life adorn so many lobbies and so many hallways of many different buildings throughout the world.

For so many people this is a simple decoration, a “thank you” to those who have given something. For others this is the last thank you, the last goodbye to a loved one, a family member or a friend. In blood centers throughout the United States there are donor walls with the names of people who religiously donate blood every fifty-six days or platelets every two weeks. Without these people, so many other lives would not have been saved. Throughout hospitals around the world, you will find a donor wall or a tree of life recognizing someone for giving a piece of themselves to save the life of another and in most cases without ever meeting that person.

Donor walls and donor plaques are a special way of thanking people and recognizing people for doing something outstanding. The recognition and thanks is of the highest magnitude and will be displayed for years and for generations to see and appreciate.