Allan Thomas is a well-traveled outdoorsman and mountaineer. He has visited the highest peaks in several continents — Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mount Everest in Asia, Denali in North America and Mount Elbrus in Europe. His treks include Mount Machu Picchu in Peru and the Patagonia region of South America.
“I love to travel and see new things,” said Allan, Respiratory Care Manager for Ascension Via Christi in Wichita, Kansas. “Not knowing anyone or a language barrier can be a challenge, but it shouldn't completely dissuade a person from traveling to a new place.”
Mount Everest beckoned him again last year.
“If you like mountain ranges, it’s one of the best in the world,” he said. “Nepal is one of the best places I’ve ever been and the people are some of the friendliest I’ve ever met.”
For his Himalayan adventure in October 2019, Allan took some things of special significance to the Base Camp 17,600 feet above sea level: a flag with the “Donate Life” organ, eye and tissue donation logo and Midwest Transplant Network’s name, and another flag with the Ascension name and logo. He added them to the colorful Tibetan prayer flags strung along the trails and peaks of Everest Base Camp.
It’s said that Himalayans believe that when winds blow the prayer flags, they carry the blessings, good will and compassion embodied in their images and writings across the land.
“I wanted to represent Midwest Transplant Network and the work they do,” Allan said. “It was an opportunity to bring awareness and to honor donors, recipients and the Transplant Honor Walks we have at Ascension Via Christi.”
The Transplant Honor Walk program at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis began in fall 2018. It's undertaken as a final act of respect given in recognition of donor heroes and their families — those who have chosen to give the gift of life through organ, eye and tissue donation to benefit others who are waiting for help.
When a patient becomes a donor at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis and the date and time for the surgery is set, internal notification is made. The donor patient and their family are escorted from their nursing unit to the operating room. Hospital associates line the hallways standing silently, demonstrating support in a final act of compassion, care and closure.
“God touched my heart and it’s my privilege to be involved,” said Allan, who brought the idea of the Honor Walk to Ascension Via Christi.
The Ascension and Donate Life flags may end up even more places in the future. “There’s always more mountain ranges to do,” he said.
