Flag Signing Event Honors Donors and Recipients Ahead of 2026 Transplant Games

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Pictured from left to right is Gabriel and Sylvia Espinoza whose son tragically passed away in a car accident in 2023 and became an organ donor. Transplant recipients as well as donor families were invited to the flag signing event. Image courtesy of DHR Health
Pictured from left to right is Gabriel and Sylvia Espinoza whose son tragically passed away in a car accident in 2023 and became an organ donor. Transplant recipients as well as donor families were invited to the flag signing event. Image courtesy of DHR Health
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EDINBURG, Texas – The DHR Health Transplant Institute and the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance recently hosted a flag signing event on February 27, 2026, for the upcoming Transplant Games of America event that will be held June 18 to 23, 2026 in Denver, Colorado.

This was the first time the Transplant Games flag came to the Rio Grande Valley. Signing the transplant games flag were DHR Health kidney transplant recipients, donor families, organizations that work closely with the Transplant Institute, elected officials, business leaders, and community members. News media representatives and the RGV Viper Basketball mascot, Fang, and dancers were also in attendance.

DHR Health Transplant Institute together with the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance recently hosted a flag signing ceremony in honor of the Transplant Games of America event that will be held in June in Denver, Colorado. Image courtesy of DHR Health

“Events such as the transplant flag signing bring together recipients, donors, families, and supporters to celebrate those second changes while also raising awareness about the importance of organ donation,” said Dr. Sridhar Allam, medical director and nephrologist at DHR Health’s Transplant Institute. “Our Transplant Institute exists to ensure that patients in our community have access to life-saving care that is close to home.”

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According to the website, the Transplant Games of America is a national, multi-sport event celebrating the lifesaving gift of organ, eye, and tissue donation. It is held every two years and brings together thousands of transplant recipients, living donors, donor families, caregivers, and supporters from across the country to honor the legacy of donors, raise awareness about the importance of donation, and promote healthy living after transplant. Through friendly competition, inspiring ceremonies, and community-building events, the Transplant Games serve as a powerful reminder of the transformative impact of donation and the strength of the transplant community.

The DHR Health Transplant Institute, which was established in 2017, is the only transplant facility of its kind south of San Antonio and Houston, serving the residents of the Rio Grande Valley. This means that patients do not have to travel out of town to receive world-class, comprehensive transplantation care. This also reduces the amount of expenses patients, and their families make for food and lodging, which can be quite costly.

Signing the Transplant Games of American Flag was DHR Health kidney transplant recipient Maria M. Fernandez. She received her kidney transplant in 2025. Image courtesy of DHR Health

The multidisciplinary team at the DHR Health Transplant Institute consists of physicians, surgeons, pharmacists, social workers, and other healthcare specialists who provide specialized and compassionate care for kidney, liver, and pancreatic disorders, including kidney transplantation. The DHR Health Transplant Institute is certified by the Center of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). The multidisciplinary team works closely with patients pre- and post-surgery to ensure their new kidney remains healthy and functional, supporting long-term success.

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