On Oct. 11 something remarkable happened. In the United States we reached a monumental goal of having 100 million people officially registered as organ donors.
ou may believe this is a small triumph only for those in the donation and transplant community, but it could also be a triumph for you or your loved ones if ever faced with the need for a life-saving organ transplant. Still, for the 18 people who die every day waiting for a donated organ and more than 110,000 men, women and children on the national waiting list for transplants, the need for registered organ donors remains great.
Nationwide, 40 percent of people age 18 and older have registered as donors. And while 90 percent of Americans say they support donation, only 30 percent know the essential steps it takes to be a registered donor. It’s simple; anyone over the age of 18 can designate their decision to donate life by accessing their state donor registry through www.donatelife.net. That’s all. And when your life on earth comes to an end, up to eight lives may be given a new beginning.
Transplantation is truly one of the most remarkable success stories in the history of medicine. It provides hope and new life to thousands each year. Ronald Lee Herrick, who donated a kidney to his dying twin brother 57 years ago in what’s recognized as the world’s first successful organ transplant, was a true pioneer of this hope. He died on Dec. 30, 2010, at the age of 79.
Read more: http://www.kenoshanews.com/opinion/a__tribute_to_the_pioneer_of_hope_266388676.html
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