Organ Donor Awareness
Just one organ donor can save the lives of eight of the 91,000 plus men, women and children who are listed in this country alone, as of February 2006. Just one organ and tissue donor can provide life-saving or life-enhancing gifts to more than FIFTY people!
Thousands of people die waiting every year -- that's an average of 17 people each day -- not because there's no treatment -- but because there are too few organ donors. Advances in medicine have resulted in greater numbers of terminally-ill patients being listed for an organ transplant -- an average of 13 people each day. However, with only modest increases in the number of organ donors over the past decade, the number of available organs remains woefully inadequate to meet the needs of those waiting.
It is a public health crisis and a modern-day tragedy that we know how to save lives, but we often are unable to do so. Learning about donation can encourage Americans to be organ and tissue donors and to share their decisions with friends and loved ones.
Organ and tissue donors are heroes, and they leave a miraculous legacy.
They are living proof that death can bring life, that sorrow can turn to hope,
and that a terrible loss can become the greatest gift of all.
Every day they lead us on a journey of hope, renewal, and transformation.
Some states recover organs based on a deceased adult's legally documented consent to donate; other states require family consent. In all instances, family members can best serve as your advocate if you have shared your donation decision with them. While data indicates that a large majority of people say they support donation, when asked to donate a deceased relative's organs and tissues, less than half say yes. One reason for this disparity is that families often do not know of their loved one's intentions. A recent study supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found that:
So many of my family and friends have been touched by the growing organ and tissue crisis this world faces. My cousin died of liver failure. My brother has an eye disorder that may result in cornea transplants. Several of my friends in leather await transplants, and others live on because of the selfless act of another human being. A gentleman in the local community died from liver failure last year, and I helped provide his friends with educational and fundraising materials for their memorial service. It gave me great satisfaction to help others celebrate life and to empower them to help make a difference and give hope to others awaiting a transplant. I work within the transplant community and am blessed by the lives I touch and have been touched by there. But, it is the gratification that I receive when out in my own community and abroad on my own time that makes my platform so very special to me because of the countless lives I am able to touch each and every day.
Decide to be a donor!!!!! Sign your donor card or put the designation on your license!
Share your decision with friends and loved ones. It takes less than 15 minutes to have a conversation to sign your donor card and share your wishes!
We all do. Pandora has chosen Donate Life America (formerly Coalition on Donation) for her charity. Founded in 1992, Donate Life America is a not-for-profit organization based in Richmond, VA that exists to educate the public about organ and tissue donation, correcting misconceptions about donation and creating a greater willingess to donate. DLA's mission is "To inspire all people to donate life through organ and tissue donation."
Donate Life America will accept in the name of Ms World Leather 2004, or in honor or memory of a loved one, donations of cash, credit cards or checks. They even have a Share-a-Stock program to make use of your donated stock shares! In lieu of a financial contribution, individuals or groups can volunteer with their local DLA coalition partner.
Donate Life America
700 N 4th Street, Richmond, VA 23219
phone 804-782-4920
www.donatelife.net
United Way Agency code 4159