DHR unveils stained glass artwork to highlight National Donor Day

EDINBURG, Texas – DHR Health, formerly Doctors Hospital at Renaissance, celebrated National Donor Day with the unveiling of new permanent art installation at their Edinburg location. 

Titled “Gift of Life,” the mosaic, honoring those who have donated organs, stands at over five feet tall and over nine feet wide. It is composed of over 8,000 hand-cut pieces of glass and includes motifs like a butterfly, cardinal, frog and dove to symbolize renewal, hope and love. 

DHR Health commissioned local artist Yolanda Cantu to complete the work through funds raised in 2023 in commemoration of the hospital’s 20^th anniversary. Cantu, wife of Alonzo Cantu and owner of McAllen Stained Glass, also has pieces displayed at the McAllen Public Library and the McAllen Heritage Center. She says this installation, in particular, took about eight months to complete, from her initial sketches until the final glass piece was cut and placed.

“I spoke to some of the staff members, physicians and donor families and asked them what they would like to see,” said Cantu. “We wanted it to be a gift of life, something representing living and hope and renewal, so … I tried to incorporate all the elements that they wanted into the piece. They all have a special symbolization.”

Cantu says six of the eight months was spent purely cutting glass for the picture, and she thanked her assistants Gloria Reyes and Mariana Prado for contributing to some of the images and helping her bring her art to life.

Next to the installation is a kiosk with information on organ donation from the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance. It also features biographies and photos of donors and patients who have received a life-saving transplant. The goal is for people to consider organ donation as they enjoy the mosaic and hopefully register as a donor via the kiosk. 

“I think it’s a lovely tribute to the donors and their families,” said Cantu. “I think it’s going to be a nice place for reflection and meditation in this corner.”

Dr. Jose L. Almeda, director of the DHR Health Transplant Institute, estimates that around 400 patients in the Rio Grande Valley are currently waiting for a kidney transplant. On average, the hospital performs about 50-60 kidney transplants annually, which leaves many still waiting as the list keeps growing. For perspective, these figures do not include patients waiting for other organ transplantations like a liver, pancreas, heart or lungs. However, seven years since its inception, the institute announced it will start providing liver transplantation services this year. Almeda says the institute is working to eventually be able to provide all transplantation services for Valley patients.

For him, the mosaic represents not only the donors and patients, but those working behind the scenes to bring them together. 

“Every little piece of this mural, this mosaic, represents to me all the people that are here that made it possible to provide the services for these patients in the Valley because it’s not easy,” said Almeda. “I don’t think given our population, it should be necessary for you or I to have to take our loved ones to a big city –  or ourselves – for healthcare services that are offered elsewhere.”

Almeda added: “This has been our dream and our vision to bring those services here to the Valley so that patients don’t have to travel. And, it’s a lot of work, but we’ve put all the little pieces together over the last ten, 12 years to get to where we are, and so I’m really appreciative to DHR Health for having the vision to bring this.”

For the public, Almeda spotlighted the two ways that people can donate: live or deceased donation. In the case of live donation, people can “share their spare” kidney to family members, friends or those in need by contacting the hospital for more information. In the case of deceased donation, one can register at the Department of Motor Vehicles as an organ donor or simply discuss their final wishes with their families. 

DHR Health hopes the mosaic and kiosk will not only honor past donors and patients but inspire others to give the gift of life to those in need now. 

For more information, contact DHR Health at 956-362-7173.

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