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."