what is an honor walk

An honor walk is a ceremonial event that takes place in hospitals to commemorate a patient whose organs are donated. The event typically takes place as the patient is transported to an operating room or waiting ambulance prior to organ procurement. During the honor walk, the hallways are lined with hospital staff, the patients friends, and family as a symbol of appreciation and respect for the patient's decision to donate their organs. The event may include an honor guard in the case of a veteran. The honor walk is a symbol of unity and compassion among families, donors, and their care teams. Hospitals notify their staff when an organ, eye, and tissue donor is about to be transported to the operating room for the recovery of gifts. The honor walk provides family members with an opportunity to accompany their loved one to the operating room before organ donation is made and to share a last few moments together.