National Donor Day: the donors who gave others a second chance honoured in El Ejido

In honour of National Donor Day, the Poniente University Hospital in El Ejido recently paid a touching tribute to organ donors whose sacrifice and generosity has helped save countless lives.

Donor’s loved ones were in attendance for the occasion. Some even spoke with professionals during a lecture, sharing their experiences of organ donation. Following the talk, donor families and doctors gathered in the hospital gardens by the centuries old-olive tree to lay a floral tribute in memory of the hospital donors. It was at once a sombre and celebratory day.

Organ donation ceremony in El Ejido

The annual event has become an important occasion for recognising the compassion shown by donor families across the Poniente region. Hospital staff, transplant coordinators and local health representatives joined relatives in remembering those whose final act helped save or improve the lives of others.

Poniente University Hospital’s Managing Direcor, Pedro Acosta, shared a few words, saying “without donors and their families, it would be impossible to obtain the organ and tissue donations that allow us to save lives or significantly improve the quality of life of other patients each year, and that is why we want to take this opportunity to express our deepest gratitude and admiration.”

The hospital’s transplant coordination team also highlighted the importance of speaking openly about organ donation with relatives, so families understand and can respect a loved one’s wishes in the future.

Organ donation figures at Poniente University Hospital

For many, donating an organ is their last act of kindness before departing the world. In 2025, 30 donors were registered at the Poniente University Hospital. Their sacrifice made possible one heart transplant, two lung transplants, four liver transplants, and 14 kidney transplants. 43 units of osteotendinous tissue was also harvested, which is estimated to have helped 215 people in trauma surgeries.

The hospital has steadily expanded its donation programme since joining the Andalusian organ donation network in 2018. Since then, more than 120 effective donations have been recorded, leading to dozens of life-saving organ transplants and hundreds of tissue donations benefiting patients across Spain. Hospital officials say the programme would not be possible without the support and courage shown by grieving families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

The lasting legacy of organ donors

In the first months of 2026 alone, the hospital had already registered 14 further donors, helping multiple transplant recipients nationwide. Medical staff say these figures demonstrate the continued generosity of families throughout the region and the growing awareness of the importance of organ donation.

The olive tree planted in the hospital gardens now stands as a lasting symbol of life, remembrance and hope for the many families whose loved ones gave others a second chance.