An honor walk is a ceremonial event that takes place in hospitals to commemorate a patient who has decided to donate their organs, eyes, and tissues. The event typically takes place as the patient is transported to an operating room or waiting ambulance, and the hallways are lined with hospital staff, the patients friends, and family. The purpose of an honor walk is to show appreciation and respect for the patients decision to donate their organs and to provide support to the family on their journey. The event is also intended to promote donation and to encourage others to give the gift of life. The process of an honor walk is usually similar across hospitals, and it involves the following steps:

• A notification is made to those in the hospital that an organ, eye, and tissue donor is about to be transported to the operating room for the recovery of gifts.
• Hospital staff who are available line the hallway that leads from the donor’s room to the operating room.
• The donor is accompanied by the donor family down the hallway, and the hospital staff observes in reflection.
• Some families may choose to play music or make an additional special request, which is often granted.

An honor walk is a powerful act of community that allows all of us to take a moment to honor the patient and their family and recognize their selfless act and their desire to give the gift of life. Hospitals across the United States are holding honor walks to show respect to patients at the end of life who are donating organs to others.