WEST READING, PA — Each day, 17 people in the United States die while waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. All Tower Health hospitals have joined the Gift of Life Donor Program to promote organ and tissue donation throughout April as part of National Donate Life Month. Gift of Life encourages individuals to register to become an organ, tissue, and cornea donor, which is as easy as visiting donors1.org.
“Transplantation is one of the most significant advancements in the history of medicine, with 95 percent of Americans saying they support organ donation. Still, the need for organs is far greater than the number available,” said Richard D. Hasz, President and CEO of Gift of Life. “Gift of Life’s mission includes educating our community about the powerful impact they can make by taking less than a minute to register as an organ, tissue and cornea donor.”
“I am proud the teams at our hospitals are investing time to educate our team members and the community on the importance of organ donation,” said P. Sue Perrotty, president and CEO of Tower Health. “This is a topic we, as healthcare employees, are so passionate about because it saves lives. I am proud to share that I am an organ donor and hope that others consider registering if they haven’t done so already.”
Some important facts about organ, tissue, and cornea donation:
- Anyone can be a potential donor regardless of age, race, or medical history.
- More than 5,000 children and adults in the region await life-saving organ transplants. Thousands of others could benefit from life-enhancing tissue transplants.
- 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 minority community, these individuals make up more than 50 percent of those on the national organ transplant list.
Individuals are being 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 donors1.org.
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