Barnes-Jewish Hospital | Washington University Physicians
LAST WORD | 
essays on life, health and medicine

THE HONOR WALK

Originally published Oct 2019

Honor walk

It could happen in the morning. Or the middle of the night. A quiet group of people — cooks, technicians, nurses, doctors, administrators — line a hospital hallway to acknowledge the passing of life, the death of someone who has chosen to become an organ donor. Family of the donor might be present and acknowledged for their loss and their gift. Someone reads a brief statement in thanks for this final act of selflessness. Then everyone is silent. Moments pass before all return to the work of caring for others.


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