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Celebrate National Donate Life Month with New England Organ Bank This April

Posted By Cottage Hospital on Apr 06 2016

This April marks the 13th annual National Donate Life Month, a celebration commemorating those who have given the gift of life through organ and tissue donation. For those whose lives have been saved or healed by a transplant, National Donate Life Month provides a chance to share their story to encourage more people to register as donors.

In addition to organ donation, tissue donations help over one million individuals each year. Heart valve, bone and skin donations give recipients a new chance at a healthy life, the recovery of tendons and ligaments can help heal a severe sports injury, and cornea donations give the gift of sight.

“Currently there are over 121,000 men, women and children awaiting organ transplants in the United States” says Laura Dempsey of New England Organ Bank. “Anyone at any age can make a powerful difference in someone’s life by being a donor. Donation saves and heals lives every day, but it can only happen when someone makes the important decision to register as an organ and tissue donor. You can make that lifesaving difference by registering your decision to donate.”

Approximately half of the U.S. adult population is registered as donors. Still, the number of people in need of transplants continues to outpace the number of donor organs. On average, 22 people die each day because the organs they need are not donated in time. Registering your decision to become a donor is the most effective way to ensure you can save lives through donation and serves as sign of hope to those like Sam who continue to wait.

To register as a donor or for more information, please visit www.DonateLifeNewEngland.org.

About New England Organ Bank

New England Organ Bank is the federally?designated, non?profit procurement organization responsible for the surgical recovery of organs and tissues for transplant throughout the New England region.

About Donate Life New England

Donate Life New England is a public education project sponsored by organizations in New England dedicated to saving and improving lives through organ and tissue donation. These organizations, including New England Organ Bank, have come together to create a fast and easy way for citizens of New England to register as organ and tissue donors in a secure and confidential manner. For more information, visit www.DonateLifeNewEngland.org.