April is National Donate Life Month!

Happy Tuesday everyone! I hope everyone had a lovely Easter weekend (for those who celebrate it) or Passover (for those who celebrate that). We had a nice family dinner and relaxed the rest of the day. It’s a nice way to go into the weekend.

However, the new week begins, and it’s back to normal. But this week is the start of an important month…

National Donate Life Month (NDLM)!

During April, there are many local, regional, and national events that encourage Americans to sign up as organ donors and to celebrate previous organ donors.

Donate Life America has released some statistics about organ donation:

  • In 2016, there were more than 33,600 transplants (from 9,900 deceased and 5,900 living donors).
  • More than 116,000 men, women, and children are waiting for organ transplants.
  • About 58% of the patients waiting for transplants are minorities.
  • Another person is added to the national organ transplant waiting list every 10 minutes.
  • 8,000 people die each year (22 people each day — almost one person each hour) because an organ is not donated in time.

Most people who are waiting for an organ transplant need kidneys (80%).

Donating doesn’t only mean organs — there’s also a need for donated tissue.

  • Each year, there are approximately 30,000 tissue donors and more than 1.75 million tissue transplants; the surgical need for donated tissue is steadily rising.
  • A single tissue donor can help more than 75 people.
  • 48,000 patients have their sight restored through corneal transplants each year. As a resident in ophthalmology, I have participated in this process both in the operating room and in the discussions with the family.

Not including living donors, more than 138 million people, approximately 56% of the U.S. adult population, have registered to be organ, eye and tissue donors.

To register as an organ donor, visit RegisterMe.org. To learn more about organ donation, visit Donate Life America.

I have gathered a few stories to start publicizing on the site but it’s not too late.if anyone else wants to tell their story – as a donor, family member of a deceased donor, or recipient. Please contact me if you want to write about your experience.  I am looking forward to hearing from you.

For more about my journey after kidney transplantation, you can visit my blog Life: The Reboot .

Be Inspired – Give Life!

Dominique

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