Nationally, more than 100,000 people are waiting for an organ transplant, including 2,500 people in western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. At least 20 will die each day without receiving the transplant they so desperately need. Someone is added to the transplant waiting list every 10 minutes.
Boone Memorial Health (BMH) held a Flag Raising Ceremony on Tuesday, April 18 to raise awareness about organ, tissue, and cornea donation. BMH joined the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) to inspire everyone during Donate Life Month to register to be an organ donor. Speakers included Colleen Sullivan, CORE Director of Public Affairs and Donor Family Service; Beth McCarthy, two-time double lung transplant recipient, and Heather Robinson, PA in honor of the late Ron Jones – a renal transplant recipient and CORE champion.
“National Donate Life Month is a time when we recognize the power of organ, tissue, and cornea donation to save and heal lives; affirm the partnerships between CORE and the hospitals we serve throughout western Pennsylvania and West Virginia that made possible nearly 900 life-saving organ transplants in 2022; and mobilize and inspire our local communities to register as donors,” said Susan Stuart, President & CEO of CORE. “Most importantly though, National Donate Life Month is a time when we honor the generous donors and donor families whose decision to give the gift of life has provided hope and healing to so many in our community.”
“As a health system, we are uniquely positioned to not only tend to the health of our patients, but to inspire our community to be mindful of wellness in all aspects of life,” said Virgil Underwood, BMH Chief Executive Officer (CEO). “The more people we can inspire to become organ donors, the better we can serve our mission to be advocates for the well-being of our entire community.”
Some important facts about organ, tissue, and cornea donation:
- Anyone can be a potential donor regardless of age, race, or medical history.
- With more than 90,000 people across the nation awaiting a kidney, it is the organ in greatest demand, followed by liver, heart, and lungs.
Because conditions such as diabetes and hypertension are often more prevalent in the multicultural community, these individuals make up more than 50 percent of those on the national organ transplant list.
Individuals are encouraged to talk with family members and friends about registering as a donor. One organ donor can save up to eight lives and a tissue donor can improve the lives of more than 100 others. To sign up, visit core.org/register.
