Honoring the Gift of Life on National Donor Day
Donate Life New York State calls on New Yorkers to celebrate National Donor Day on Feb. 14 by becoming a donor and sharing with others how organ, eye and tissue donation can change lives.
ALBANY, N.Y., Feb. 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- February 14th is National Donor Day, a time to recognize the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation. Donate Life New York State (NYS) encourages New Yorkers to celebrate this day by becoming a registered donor and sharing with others the impact that donors can make on the lives of others.
"Celebrated along with Valentine's Day, National Donor Day is a special time to consider giving the gift of life by enrolling in the New York State Donate Life Registry," said Aisha Tator, Executive Director of Donate Life NYS, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing organ, eye and tissue donation throughout New York State.
"It's also a time to recognize loved ones who have given the gift of organ or tissue donation, have received a transplant, or are currently waiting for one. " Tator added.
The Registry is a confidential database of people in New York State who have signed up to donate their organs, eyes and/or tissue after their death. Enrollment in the Registry eases the donation and transplantation process, making organs available to those who are suffering from end-stage organ disease and need them to live. Eye and tissue donations improve the lives and assist in the healing of those in need.
New Yorkers ages 16 and over can enroll in the Registry online at www.donatelife.ny.gov or through the DMV when applying for or renewing a driver license or non-driver ID card. Individuals may also enroll while applying for a New York City Municipal ID card, registering to vote or applying for coverage through the New York State of Health marketplace.
Out of the approximately 9,400 New Yorkers on the waiting list, more than 1,700 have been waiting for life-saving transplants for more than five years. Each year, approximately 500 men, women and children in the state die due to the shortage of organ donors. A single deceased donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and enhance 75 more through tissue and corneal donation. A living donor can donate a kidney or part of their liver, lung or pancreas to someone in need.
National Donor Day was established in 1998 by the Saturn Corporation and its United Auto Workers partner with the support of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to raise awareness for organ, eye, tissue, marrow, platelet and blood donation. Spreading the importance of the need for donation can take place through social media, by helping friends and family register as donors and by hosting local events, among other outreach efforts.
About Donate Life New York State
Donate Life New York State (NYS), formerly New York Alliance for Donation, is a not-for-profit with a mission to increase organ, eye and tissue donation in New York State through collaborative advocacy, education, promotion, and research. Our goal is to ensure a transplant for every New Yorker in need. Donate Life New York State is comprised of four organ procurement organizations and four eye and tissue banks as well as processors and other affiliates, including dedicated donation and transplantation professionals. Facebook: www.facebook.com/DonateLifeNYS Twitter: @DonateLifeNYS
CONTACT: Aisha Tator, Donate Life New York State
[email protected], (518) 326-3237
SOURCE Donate Life New York State
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