Shining a Light: T.A. Walker Debunks Myths and Discusses National Donate Life Month with Legacy Donor Services Foundation, Ahead of Make the Save, Save a Life

This year, Legacy Donor Services Foundation collaborated, once again, with the St. Lucie Tax Collector
and Donor Heroes to kick off National Donate Life Month and educate the community about donation. In
Port St. Lucie, the Shining a Light segment – hosted by T.A. Walker – on WPTV NBC and WFLX Fox
featured frontline healthcare professionals who care for transplant and trauma patients, demystifying
donor myths. The broadcasts also connected audiences with real stories from donor families and medical
experts, underscoring that donation is a carefully managed, life-saving healthcare process.
Answering the question about patient care, Bruce Staley, ICU Director, HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital
stated, “Every patient coming in the ICU, saving the patient’s life is our number one priority, and we do
not know donor status.”
Participants featured in the segments include Dr. David Rubay (Trauma Medical Director, HCA Florida
Lawnwood Hospital), Bruce Staley (ICU Director, HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital), Jen Cepeda
(Surgical Coordinator, HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital), Laura Garcia (Regional Program Director),
Legia Maranon-Garcia (Donor Mom, President of Maranon & Associates), and Alida Russakis (Surgical
Tech, Donor Mom, Cleveland Clinic-Tradition).
This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to education, transparency, and community
engagement—ensuring families understand donation as a lifesaving, meticulously managed process while
honoring the generosity of donors and their families.
The overall effort culminates in raising awareness for the Make the Save, Save a Life event at the St.
Lucie Mets game, which benefits Donor Heroes and reinforces the message that every donation can save
lives.