Governor Corbett Commends Murnaghan Family, Officials and Concerned Citizens for Efforts to Change Organ Donation Policy
10-Year-Old Sarah Murnaghan to Receive New Lung
HARRISBURG, Pa., June 12, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Tom Corbett today commended the Murnaghan family of Newtown Square, Delaware County, for their efforts to change national policy around organ donation.
The family announced today that 10-year-old Sarah Murnaghan will receive a new lung as a result of a multi-week campaign to change current policies.
"I am humbled by the efforts of Sarah and her family to advocate for children in need of organ donations all over the United States," Corbett said.
"Her story is an example of the strength and will of the human spirit, and a reminder to never give up and always give back to those who most need our help," Corbett said. "I wish her well.''
A federal court ruled last week to allow a 10-day extension on an exception to current age restrictive organ donation policies that would preclude children under 12 from receiving adult organs. Sarah Murnaghan had been awaiting a lung transplant and was told she had approximately 5 weeks left to live.
Corbett, as well as several other federal and state officials, sent letters to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius asking her to consider changing the restrictive policy.
The governor also expressed his gratitude to the family of the organ donor in Sarah's case.
"It only takes 30 seconds to become an organ or tissue donor, but those 30 seconds can mean a lifetime to a child or adult in need of a transplant,'' Corbett said.
Pennsylvanians can become donors when registering on their driver's license, learner's permit or for a state identification card. More than 4.4 million Pennsylvanians have already registered as organ and tissue donors, but there is a need for more.
For more information about organ donation, visit DonateLifePA.org.
Media contact: Christine Cronkright, 717-783-1116
SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor
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