Number of registered organ donors surpasses 1 million
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The number of registered organ and tissue donors in Connecticut has surpassed the 1 million mark helped in part by the easy check-off when obtaining a state driver’s license or identity card.
“This is clearly such a deeply personal choice people make and reaching this mark is an important goal,” Governor Jodi Rell said. “They know they will make a tremendous difference in the lives of perfect strangers. This is a selfless, incredibly gracious gift.
“We still have more work to do, however. There are more than 1,100 people in the state are currently waiting for a live-saving organ transplant,” the Governor said.
Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Robert M. Ward also hailed the milestone, noting that personal experience showed him the value of this effort and need throughout the nation.
“Two and a half years ago, I learned I had end stage renal disease. I began dialysis and was placed on a transplant waiting list. I was very fortunate to receive a kidney from my brother and that transplant changed my life,” Commissioner Ward said. “Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a living donor. By becoming an organ and tissue donor you can make a difference. Please register to become a donor – your decision to donate can save a life.”
Donate Life Connecticut ( www.ctorganandtissuedonation.org ) , which represents various groups promoting organ and tissue donation, credits the DMV for the steady increase in the number of registered donors.
“We are incredibly grateful to the DMV for their tireless support of the Donor Registry,” said Caitlyn Bernabucci, chairwoman of Donate Life Connecticut. “Over 95 percent of people that register to donate do it at the DMV. Because the agency is committed to asking customers about registering as donors, people are saying ‘yes’ and lives are being saved.”
Donor registration is currently made available to every state resident who either obtains a new or renews a driver’s license or I.D. card. In 2005 a database was established for tracking donation decisions. Since the database was created more than 1,200 organ or tissue transplants have occurred in Connecticut as a result of donations.
Ally Hood, of Marlborough, joined Commissioner Ward and other officials at a special event celebrating the milestone, remembers the day her brother, Bryan Hood, who was a registered organ and tissue donor, died at age 23.
“We knew that what had been the worst day in our lives was about to be the best day in the lives of other families whose loved ones were desperately waiting for a lifesaving transplant,” she said.
Hood, along with the rest of her family knew that her brother was a strong advocate for organ and tissue donation, and at the end of his life the family knew that his choice to be a donor was the right one.
“We miss Bryan every moment of every day, but we are comforted in knowing that through donation, his life has truly made a difference, and the lives saved through his donations will in turn, impact others,” said Ally
Donate Life Connecticut is a statewide collaborative volunteer organization consisting of healthcare organizations, donor families, living donors, and transplant recipients. Together, through education and awareness programs, the organization promotes the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation.
“This is clearly such a deeply personal choice people make and reaching this mark is an important goal,” Governor Jodi Rell said. “They know they will make a tremendous difference in the lives of perfect strangers. This is a selfless, incredibly gracious gift.
“We still have more work to do, however. There are more than 1,100 people in the state are currently waiting for a live-saving organ transplant,” the Governor said.
Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Robert M. Ward also hailed the milestone, noting that personal experience showed him the value of this effort and need throughout the nation.
“Two and a half years ago, I learned I had end stage renal disease. I began dialysis and was placed on a transplant waiting list. I was very fortunate to receive a kidney from my brother and that transplant changed my life,” Commissioner Ward said. “Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a living donor. By becoming an organ and tissue donor you can make a difference. Please register to become a donor – your decision to donate can save a life.”
Donate Life Connecticut ( www.ctorganandtissuedonation.org ) , which represents various groups promoting organ and tissue donation, credits the DMV for the steady increase in the number of registered donors.
“We are incredibly grateful to the DMV for their tireless support of the Donor Registry,” said Caitlyn Bernabucci, chairwoman of Donate Life Connecticut. “Over 95 percent of people that register to donate do it at the DMV. Because the agency is committed to asking customers about registering as donors, people are saying ‘yes’ and lives are being saved.”
Donor registration is currently made available to every state resident who either obtains a new or renews a driver’s license or I.D. card. In 2005 a database was established for tracking donation decisions. Since the database was created more than 1,200 organ or tissue transplants have occurred in Connecticut as a result of donations.
Ally Hood, of Marlborough, joined Commissioner Ward and other officials at a special event celebrating the milestone, remembers the day her brother, Bryan Hood, who was a registered organ and tissue donor, died at age 23.
“We knew that what had been the worst day in our lives was about to be the best day in the lives of other families whose loved ones were desperately waiting for a lifesaving transplant,” she said.
Hood, along with the rest of her family knew that her brother was a strong advocate for organ and tissue donation, and at the end of his life the family knew that his choice to be a donor was the right one.
“We miss Bryan every moment of every day, but we are comforted in knowing that through donation, his life has truly made a difference, and the lives saved through his donations will in turn, impact others,” said Ally
Donate Life Connecticut is a statewide collaborative volunteer organization consisting of healthcare organizations, donor families, living donors, and transplant recipients. Together, through education and awareness programs, the organization promotes the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation.
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