Valentine's Day designated as National Organ Donor Day, drive for registration

While many commemorate Valentine's Day with cards, candy and flowers, Pennsylvanians are encouraged to give the ultimate gift of love by signing up to become organ and tissue donors. With the support of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Valentine's Day has been designated as National Organ Donor Day to raise awareness of the lives that can be touched -- potentially more than 50 at a time --through one person becoming an organ and tissue donor.  

Organ and tissue donation can free people from dialysis treatments, give sight, repair joints or save limbs, help burn victims heal and most importantly save lives.  These acts benefit not only the recipient but also their family and friends. In Pennsylvania, nearly 7,900 people are awaiting an organ transplant, while tens of thousands of others wait for a tissue transplant.

"While there is public support for organ and tissue donation, we need more individuals to take that next step of registering to be a donor," said state Health Secretary Everette James. "Every 11 minutes, a new name is added to the national organ waiting list, yet less than 50 percent of eligible Pennsylvanians are designated organ and tissue donors.  We want to remind our residents that in the time it takes to order flowers for Valentine's Day, you could register and potentially save up to 50 lives."

"Registering to be an organ and tissue donor is simple," said Kurt J. Myers, PennDOT's Deputy Secretary for Safety Administration.  "In a mere 90 seconds, Pennsylvanians can add the organ donor designation to their driver's licenses or state identification cards by visiting www.donatelife-pa.org.  Prior to the online service, most residents waited until their driver's licenses or identification cards were up for renewal every four years before thinking about adding the organ donor designation.  The online service makes it easy for Pennsylvanians to show they are willing to give the gift of life."

Although 85 percent of the commonwealth's residents support organ donation, and there is strong support from healthcare professionals and all organized religions, in Pennsylvania only about 45 percent of eligible individuals have placed the organ donor designation on their driver's license or state identification card. Fewer still have discussed the issue with their families.

Howard M. Nathan and Susan Stuart, the presidents and CEO's of Pennsylvania's two organ procurement organizations -- Gift of Life in Philadelphia and CORE (Center for Organ Recovery and Education in Pittsburgh), respectively -- know that education and awareness are essential to encouraging people to sign up to be donors.

"There are more than 6,000 men, women and children in our region who are waiting for a life-saving transplant," said Nathan. "We offer a wide variety of educational resources and tools for businesses, schools, colleges and universities, churches and synagogues, to help them increase awareness about the critical need for life-saving organs and tissues for transplant." 

Stuart added, "There are many faces of donation. Some are the faces of people waiting for a life-saving or life-enhancing transplant. Some are those who can enjoy another day because someone said 'yes' to donation. I urge everyone to sign up today to give the gift of life and love by saying yes to donation."

Sign up to be an organ and tissue donor today by visiting www.donatelife-pa.org because Life Begins with You.