St. Luke's is dedicated to improving the health and quality of life for families living and working in our communities, including Northern Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan.

St. Luke’s dedicated a Wall of Heroes memorial honoring organ, tissue and eye donors at a ceremony on April 23. This is the first Wall of Heroes memorial in northern Minnesota. Attending the ceremony were families and loved ones of donors, community organizations and medical staff. St. Luke’s President and CEO John Strange said, “We have been privileged to work with families throughout the donation process and it is an honor to be here with donors’ families today.”

The Wall of Heroes memorial was handcrafted by two St. Luke’s Intensive Care Unit nurses, Pete Boyechko and Jeremy Nelson, who have worked closely with patients and their loved ones through the donation process. Together, they have created a hand-carved tree with unique stained glass leaves representing donors’ generous gifts of life and sight. The tree symbolizes the tree of life and the leaves honor donors who gave the gift of life and sight.

St. Luke’s Intensive Care Unit Nurse and Stained Glass Artist Pete Boyechko explained how working in the ICU has strengthened his view on donation. “Our donors have given the priceless gift of life and sight to complete strangers. It is powerful to be part of something so special.” The memorial will be permanently displayed in the 2 ^nd floor rotunda of St. Luke’s Hospital.