Press "Enter" to skip to content

Old hearts get new lives

Donate Life

April is Donate Life Month across the nation. Healthy organs, eyes and tissues can be donated to others in need. These donated organs can help save or greatly improve someone else’s life. Donate Life is a non-profit organization that aims to help educate the public about the positive effects of donating. There are three types of donations- living donations include transplants of livers and kidneys, deceased donations can include multiple organs and vascularized composite allografts can include skin, bone, blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue transplants.

According to Donate Life, every 10 minutes a person is added to the national transplant waiting list. 8,000 deaths occur every year in the U.S. because organs are not donated in time. 115,000 people of all genders and ages are waiting for a lifesaving transplant. By donating your organs, you can save up to eight lives. Donating corneas can restore sight for two people and donating tissue can heal the lives of 75 people.

Who can donate

Anyone can be a potential donor, but medical conditions at the time of death will determine what can be used. People from every racial or ethnic group are encouraged to donate. When someone is in need of an organ, there is a better chance of there being a match with people of the same racial or ethnic background.

How to help

Donate Life encourages people to register to be a donor and to also consider being a living donor. Since Donate Life is a non-profit organization, they also encourage money donations. “Every dollar that is donated goes directly towards increasing the number of organ, eye and tissue donors, one person at a time.” states Donate Life. It is also encouraged that you reach out to others and educate them on the benefits of becoming a donor. Keeping a healthy lifestyle will not only help you in life but will give your organs their best chance at being considered for donation.

Becoming a donor is quick and easy. Visit the Donate Life register page at, www.donatelife.net/register/. Fill out the form with your name, date of birth, last four numbers of your social security number, sex, address and email. Once you click submit, you are officially an organ donor, which means you agree to donate all eligible organs and tissue for transplant upon death. If you want to change or remove your registration at any time, you can do so at RegisterMe.org.

Donate a Life

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *