Pinwheel garden at UVA Health celebrates organ donations and transplants

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) -There are some wind-catching and eye-catching pinwheels outside UVA’s West Complex. They celebrate organ donations and transplants.

“We have put out this wonderful pinwheel garden. We have over 1,000 pinwheels roughly, signifying the number of people who are actively waiting for organ transplants, who have been organ donors, and just spend that time honoring and remembering those along this journey,” Amy Schmidt-Morris with the UVA Transplant Center said Wednesday, April 17.

That journey to receive an organ can take years. Morris says the number of people in need is staggering.

“Within the state of Virginia, we have over 3,000 people actively waiting for an organ transplant,” Morris said. “Nationally, we have over 100,000, and that number continues to grow each and every year.”

UVA Health says it hope people see the pinwheel garden, now in its fourth year, and take a moment to pause and reflect on the journey that is transplantation and organ donation.

The pinwheel colors are significant, too: This is the first year decorated red and gold pinwheels were sprinkled amongst the blue and silver ones. Morris says the blue and silver represent UVA, in general.

“The fun color ones, we did a new initiative this year called Plant Your Story,” Morris said.

The red and gold pinwheels were decorated in jewels, stickers, or even pipe cleaners. It was customized by those who have been impacted or a part of the journey.

UVA Transplant Center is the only comprehensive transplant center in the commonwealth. Morris says projects like the Pinwheel Garden helps instill hope.

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