(LARGO, FL – April 2019) – The Transplant Institute of Florida at Largo Medical Center is performing a flag presentation honoring two Tampa Bay area brothers. The brothers are Stephen and Matthew Bergfield of Tampa, Florida. Stephen learned in 2008 he had a genetic kidney disorder. He had a kidney transplant in 2010 and learned last May he would need another to survive. Matthew learned in September 2018 he was a match and on Wednesday, January 16th of this year the 28-year old donated a kidney to his now 34-year old brother. In celebration of the donation, a Donate Life flag presentation will be held TOMORROW, Wednesday, April 24, in front of the main entrance to the Largo Medical Center campus located at 201 14th Street SW, Largo, FL at 9:00 a.m. The Donate Life flag is a symbol of unity and hope, and honors and celebrates the hundreds of thousands of donors and recipients whose lives have been affected by organ, eye and tissue donation.
“I couldn’t have donated to a better human being than my brother Stephen,” said Matthew Bergfield, Living Kidney Donor. “I am amazed to see how well he is doing and look forward to many more years ahead.”
“Knowing my brother his entire life, it was no surprise to me that he donated because he such an amazing guy,” said Stephen Bergfield, Matthew’s Brother and Kidney Recipient. “And for that I am eternally grateful!”
When a live organ donation takes place at Largo Medical Center, a Donate Life flag will also be flown as a reminder to our community of the donor’s generous decision. After three days the flag will be lowered.
“Living organ donation is a gift like none other,” said Adam Rudd, CEO, Largo Medical Center. “And our colleagues at the Transplant Institute of Florida are proud to continue to educate our patients, our community and beyond about its importance, helping save more lives like Stephen’s every day.”
To learn about living organ donation, check out the Transplant Institute of Florida at LargoMedical.com.
Right now, there are more than 5,300 Floridians awaiting a lifesaving transplant today with more than 113,000 waiting nationally. Most will not have a living donor willing to donate and will rely on those individuals who have made a decision to donate after death who have registered on Florida’s organ, tissue and eye donor registry.
To attend the flag presentation and/or to schedule an interview, contact Tammy Robiconti, Director of PR & Communications at 727-348-1896 or email Tammy.Robiconti@HCAHealthcare.com
About Largo Medical Center
Largo Medical Center is a 429-bed statutory teaching hospital serving Pinellas County from three campuses. The hospital provides Atrial Fibrillation Care at the AFib & Heart Rhythm Centers, Bariatric (Surgical Weight Loss) Services at the Florida Bariatric Centers, Behavioral Healthcare, Breast Healthcare at the Florida Breast Institute, Cardiovascular Services, Clinical Research, Emergency Care at 3 campuses, the H2U Health and Wellness program, Hepatobiliary Care at The Hepatobiliary Center, Imaging and Diagnostic Services, Kidney & Liver Transplants at the Transplant Institute of Florida, Orthopedic/Total Joint Care at the Florida Orthopedic Pavilion, Inpatient, Outpatient and Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation, Palliative Care, Robotic Surgery, Spine and Neurologic Care at the Florida Spine & Neuro Center, and Wound Care with Hyperbaric Medicine. Largo Medical Center has AOA and ACGME Accredited Graduate Medical Education programs. The hospital is the West Coast Academic Center for NOVA Southeastern University and is affiliated with the USF Morsani College of Medicine. Largo Medical Center is a Certified Advanced Heart Failure Center and an Advanced Primary Stroke Center. We have an accredited AFib Center, Bariatric (Surgical Weight Loss) Program, Breast Center, Cancer Care program, Chest Pain with PCI and Inpatient Rehabilitation program. Learn more at LargoMedical.com. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.