April is National Donate Life Month. Over 121,000 people are currently awaiting an organ transplant in the United States. On average, 18 patients die every day waiting for a lifesaving organ that doesn’t become available in time.
LifeNet Health, a federally designated organ procurement organization, is partnering with University Healthcare during the month of April to encourage individuals to consider registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor.
Two local organ recipients joined University Healthcare and LifeNet Health at a celebration to promote National Donate Life Month. Chuck Price, a double lung transplant recipient from Gerrardstown and Vivian Walker, a heart transplant recipient from Winchester, helped raise the Donate Life flag at Berkeley Medical Center.
Price, who had his double lung transplant in April 2013, was on a transplant list for three months which was, ironically, the same amount of time that the doctors gave him to live. Walker, who was on a list for only 11 days, had been in the hospital for four months and was told she would not leave the hospital without a transplant.
Many individuals have already registered through the DMV and there is nothing else needed other than making family, friends and co-workers aware of the decision. For those who haven’t registered or who want more information, visit www.DonateLifeWestVirginia.org.
