An honor walk (or hero walk) is a ceremonial event to commemorate a patient whose organs are donated. The event normally takes place as the patient is transported to an operating room or waiting ambulance prior to organ procurement. It is typically held for patients on life support with no chance of survival, but can also be held for living donors. [1]
As of 2022, over 100,000 people are on the national organ transplant waiting list in the United States, with 17 people dying per day waiting for a transplant. An individual donor can provide up to eight organs. [2]
As the patient is transported to the operating room or a waiting ambulance, [3] the hallways are lined with hospital staff and the patient's friends and family. [4] The event is intended to show appreciation and respect for the patient's decision to donate their organs and may include an honor guard in the case of a veteran. [4] [5]