Claudia Chiaro, a Home Health Care representative for Franciscan Health Hammond, tells a story of organ donation and reception during an annual observance of National Donate Life Month April 28 before a packed crowd in the hospital chapel. The Griffith woman two years ago was a kidney donor and her husband, Mike, a kidney recipient, in separate cases.
She discussed the satisfaction of giving to help save a life and her husband’s gratitude in receiving the life-preserving organ. Other speakers included Patrick Maloney, hospital president and CEO; Linda Kraiko, senior director of patient services for Franciscan Health Dyer, Hammond and Munster; Hammond hospital Deacon John Bacon, Alice Jenkins, hospital coordinator for the local Gift of Hope program; and Michael Henderson professional services coordinator for the Vision First organization, formerly the Indiana Lions Eye Bank.
