A Colchester man whose daughter gave her organs to save the lives of others hopes a special flag flying at Town Hall will raise awareness for organ donation.
Peter Kupczak got permission to raise the Donate Life America flag on the Town Hall flagpole as part of Flags Across America, a national celebration honoring organ, eye and tissue donors. Donate Life America, a national nonprofit devoted to educating the public about organ donation, holds the yearly event.
“It’s just trying to educate the public and get the word out,” Kupczak said. “We have 110,000 people on a waiting list now. We lose 18 people every day who don’t get the organs they need.”
April is national Donate For Life Month, Kupczak said, and he raised the flag in honor of his daughter, Jessica. The flag will fly until April 30.
Jessica Kupczak, a former Colchester native, died in November 2002 at just 24 years old after a severe asthma attack.
“She was able to give others the gift of life,” Kupczak said.
A 33-year-old man received her left kidney and pancreas, a 62-year-old woman and 57-year-old woman received her kidneys, and her heart was transplanted into a 50-year-old man. Kupczak said he has never met the recipients.
Some want to see the flag fly for the entire month of April, perhaps next year.
“I’m all for putting it up for the whole month,” Sean O’Leary, a resident and Parks and Recreation Commission chairman said. “I’m a donor, too. I had that important conversation with my family.”
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