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UHS and the Center for Organ Donation celebrate National Donate Life Month

April 09, 2018

April marks the 15th annual National Donate Life Month, a celebration commemorating those who have given the gift of life through organ, eye and tissue donation. UHS is partnering with the Center for Donation & Transplant, to observe National Donate Life month by spreading awareness within our organization and community about the importance of registering as an organ and tissue donor.

“The transplant waiting list is made up of people of all ages,” says Michael Thibault, MBA, RN, executive director of the Center for Donation & Transplant. “Likewise, it’s important to show that people of any age can make a powerful difference in someone’s life by being a donor. Donation saves and heals lives every day, but it can only happen when someone makes the important decision to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor. You can make that lifesaving difference by registering your decision at www.donatelifecdt.org.”

More than 115,000 people are currently awaiting a transplant, and sadly, an average of 22 patients die every day, because the organ they needed was not donated in time. Here in New York State, every 2 ½ hours a person’s name is added to the NYS organ transplant waiting list. We have over 10,000 people waiting for a life-saving transplant, yet we rank 50 out of 50 states in the number of people registered to be donors. The solution to this problem is to continue educating the public about the lifesaving effects of donation and encouraging our families, friends, colleagues and neighbors to sign up on the Donate Life registry.

It is important to remember that organ donation is not just about the recipients. It is also about helping families who are grieving the loss of a loved one, supporting those families, and providing them the opportunity to do something positive at a time when so much has gone wrong in their lives. The staff at UHS has always been fully committed to supporting and nurturing these grief stricken families, and making the option of donation a positive experience for them.

To register to be a donor or for more information, visit www.donatelifecdt.org.