Record-breaking year for lives saved and healed by Lifebanc
More than 25,000 Lives saved and healed by organ, eye and tissue donation in northeast Ohio

(Cleveland, OH February 3, 2011)  Most people will live an entire lifetime and never be a hero. As teenagers, Andrew and Erin Ehrbar were. On April 28, 2010, a tragic car accident took these two lives too soon and both changed many lives through organ, eye and tissue donation. Erin was just a few days short of her 17^th birthday and Andrew was 13, both gave the Gift of Life. In the face of tragedy, Andrew and Erin’s mother Laura immediately thought of organ, eye and tissue donation and of the other parents who would face the loss of a child without the donation of a life-saving organ or life-enhancing tissue.

“Erin signed up to be an organ donor when she got her drivers license,” Laura said.  “We talked about it a little before she went in to get her license, but that was her decision. She donated her corneas so at least one, maybe two people are out there seeing the world in vibrant colors jut like she did.” Andrew was able to donate his organs to help save the lives of those waiting on a life-saving organ transplant. “Our choice of donating his organs helped somebody else live. And in our case, Andrew's organs saved three people's lives, and I just think that he thinks that's so cool,” continued Laura.

Andrew and Erin are two of the more than 600 heroes that helped forever change lives in northeast Ohio in 2010.  More than 25,000 lives were saved and enhanced through organ, eye and tissue donation. “Families of donors often make selfless decisions in their most difficult time, and those decisions to donate ultimately save lives and can profoundly improve life for dozens of people,” said Gordon Bowen, Lifebanc Chief Executive Officer. Through the quality of service and compassion shown to donor families and the teamwork with 80 hospital partners, Lifebanc had a record year, furthering this region's commitment to the nearly 110,000 men, women and children waiting for life-saving organ transplants nationwide.

During the past year, Lifebanc recovered 403 organs from 118 donors for life-saving transplants, a 1.5% percent increase over the previous year. “The increase marks a significant milestone in organ donation in our service area. Lifebanc continues to enhance and support individuals’ decisions to designate themselves as organ, eye and tissue donors and improve the chances for those waiting for life-saving transplants,” continued Bowen. Lifebanc also surpassed the national conversion rate goal of 75 percent, the percentage of actual organ donors out of all potential donors, with a 76.62 percent conversion rate.

 
Additionally, 5,177 tissues were recovered from 491 tissue donors and improved the lives of tens of thousand more.  Lifebanc partnered with Tissue Banks International at the end of the year and for the first time recovered corneas to best serve our donors and their families. Corneas were recovered from 12 donors to enhance the lives of those in need of cornea transplants. Lifebanc is leading the nation with a 60.82 percent consent rate for tissue and 62.2 percent consent rate for eye donation, a 41 percent increase since 2007.

Notably, just as Erin Ehrbar was a registered organ, eye and tissue donor, 64 percent of Lifebanc’s 609 donors were from individuals who said “yes” to be a registered organ, eye and tissue donor.  Northeast Ohioans came out in record numbers in support of donation in 2010. Lifebanc had nearly 104,000 people register their donation decision for the first time.  The percentage of registered organ, eye and tissue donors in Lifebanc’s region is steadily increasing and reached an all time high in December with 54.6 percent of all licensed drivers and state ID holders designating their decision to be donors.  In Ohio, 291,131 new registrants were added to Ohio’s Donor Registry and 36% were from northeast Ohio. The generosity of Ohioans is seen in the nearly five million registered organ, eye and tissue donors who are motivated to save or improve the lives of others.

Additionally, in only its third year of raising money to support its community outreach programs, Lifebanc had a record year. Contributions have totaled more than $250,000 to support outreach and education initiatives in northeast Ohio, a 30 percent increase over the previous year. Since 2007, nearly a million dollars have been raised.

It takes hospital partners working closely with Lifebanc to save lives through donation; it takes good relationships and quality work. Lifebanc has all three. In 2010, the U.S Department of Health and Human Services nationally recognized Lifebanc and awarded a silver Medal of Honor for exceeding two national goals: achieving an organ donation rate of over 76 percent, exceeding the national target of 75 percent and transplanted 560 organs which is significantly above the expected. Only 14 Organ Procurement Organizations out of 58 nationwide received this award. This occurred during the 18-month measurement period from October 1, 2008 through March 31, 2010. Six northeast Ohio hospitals also received a Medal of Honor for their successes in saving lives by increasing organ donation rates at their facilities.

Another milestone for 2010 was the grand opening of a new facility in Warrensville Heights. The new 25,000 square foot headquarters will help strengthen donation recovery efforts and help save, heal and change the lives of those waiting and honor the gifts that have been given.

In 2011, Lifebanc will continue the movement to ensure that as many lives as possible are saved and improved each day through the miracle of donation and transplantation. With nearly 110,000 women, children and men waiting for life-saving organ transplants across the country; the need is greater than ever. More than 1,800 of those waiting reside in northeast Ohio. The need for donors continues to increase and in order to meet this need, it is essential that thousands of people take a step forward to register as donors and that families who are asked to make the decision for their loved ones say “yes” to donation just as the Ehrbar family did.

For 25 years, Lifebanc has been responsible for coordinating the organ, eye and tissue donation process, increasing registration rates, providing public and professional education and providing bereavement services for donor families in northeast Ohio. To become a registered organ, eye and tissue donor and save a life, visit www.lifebanc.org.