Donate Life

As of 3:21PM April 24th 2012, 114,029 people are waiting for an organ. In New York Alone there are at least 10,000 people on that very list. Even in our own community we may know (someone) (one little girl) who is awaiting an organ or tissue transplant.

With April being Donate Life Month, it is the time to raise awareness and enrollment in organ and tissue donation programs. With one organ donor able to save the lives of 8 people and one tissue donor able to improve the lives of 12 people, it is possible that one day a stranger may very well save your life. That same stranger could save your child and your mother’s life, or even help those loosing their sight, or those needing bone marrow.

According to organdonor.gov, a new person is added to the Organ Donor Registry every 10 minutes. In the time you have been reading the paper, it’s likely at least one person was added. They go on to mention that while the number of people waiting may change, and the volume of donors may also change at any time, the need is still very real, and only you can help! As of 2009, the survival rate 5 years after a successful transplant was 69.3% of kidney, 74.9% of heart, 73.8% of liver, and 54.4% of lung transplant recipients.

Additional statistics taken from ogandonor.gov:

18 people will die each day waiting for an organ

In 2010, 62% of living donors were women. The statistic is reversed for deceased donation.

In 2010, 67% of all deceased donors were White, 16% were Black, 13% Hispanic and 2.3% Asian.

As of December 2011, the national waiting list was made up of 45% White, 29% Black, 18% Hispanic, and 7% Asian.

Source: http://organdonor.gov/about/data.html

Giving the gift of life by donating organs and tissues takes very little effort and can do so much good, leaving a lasting impression on many lives. All it takes is to fill out the corresponding section on your drivers licensing, renewal, or non-drivers identification card forms at your local branch of the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles. You may also go online to the NYS DMV or department of health website, and enroll.

Be sure to make sure your family is aware of your decision to donate your organs and tissue, so they can see to it your wishes are honored. You may want to include organ donation instructions in any advanced care directives you may have.