Significance of organ donations recognized in AprilDate: 5/2/2023 The month of April highlighted national recognition for Donate for Life America, an organization that spreads awareness about the need for organ, eye and tissue donations. Locally, Baystate Medical Center and several municipalities commemorated the month’s importance by highlighting Donate for Life’s life-altering mission.
According to Donate for Life America, over 100,000 patients are waiting for an organ transplant nationwide. The nonprofit organization utilizes April annually to provide education on the impact each person’s organ donation can have on numerous people.
Donate for Life America estimates that one organ donation can save eight lives, one cornea donor can restore eyesight for two people and one tissue donor can help heal more than 75 people.
Around 170 million Americans are registered as organ donors. Still, the need exceeds the availability. Donate for Life shared that a person is added to the organ transplant wait list every nine minutes, with 17 people dying each day while waiting for an organ transplant.
To combat the growing need, Donate for Life America encourages the public to sign up for organ donation at RegisterMe.org or their local DMV. People can either sign up as a deceased donor, which is donating organs after death, or give back as living donors.
The nonprofit also recognized the impact of organ donors in April through various celebrations, including Donate Life Living Donor Day on April 5, Blue and Green Day on April 14 and National Pediatric Transplant Week from April 23-29.
Baystate Medical Center offers the only transplant services in Western Massachusetts for adults requiring kidney transplantation. The donation of a kidney is viewed as a significant contribution, with 85 percent of the national waitlist represented by those in need of a kidney, according to Baystate Medical Center Senior Public Relations Specialist Keith O’Conner.
In their recognition of National Donate Life Month, Baystate highlighted the efforts of Barbara Kelleher of Belchertown, who became a living kidney donor on March 30, 2022. Kelleher became a living kidney donor after learning that a fellow parishioner remained on the waitlist for two and a half years.
A year later, Kelleher reflected on the impact of her donation.
“I am as active as ever, life is good, and one kidney is definitely enough for me. Whenever I share my story, people are amazed. My hope is that, down the road, one of them will also say ‘Yes’ to becoming a living organ donor. The need is great, but the reward is even greater,” said Kelleher.
Around 160 people are currently signed up on the organ donation waitlist at Baystate.
Additionally, municipalities, such as Springfield, Chicopee, Westfield and Southwick, recognized National Donate Life Month with flag-raising ceremonies.
Chicopee Mayor John Vieau and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno both spoke about the importance of organ donations.
“Organ transplantation is one of the most remarkable achievements of modern medicine. It has saved countless lives and improved the quality of life for countless others, but the need for organ donors is much greater than the number of people who actually donate,” said Vieau.
“I’ve been a registered donor for years. It only takes one to save a life and create a legacy,” said Sarno.
Readers can learn more about National Donate Life Month at donatelife.net.
|
