Central Vermont Medical Center is pleased to announce we have partnered with New England Donor Services to celebrate National Donate Life Month. This April marks the 15th 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.
Currently, 56 percent of the U.S. adult population are registered organ and tissue donors, yet the number of people in need of transplants continues to outpace the number of organs donated. More than 116,000 people are waiting for a transplant and a second chance at life. On average, 22 people die each day because the organ they need is not donated in time. That is almost one person dying every hour.
“There are more than 5,000 New Englanders waiting for life-saving transplants,” said Penny Lowery, RN, who leads CVMC’s organ donation awareness efforts. “Committing to be an organ donor is a generous decision that can save the lives of up to eight individuals, and even more if a donor can give corneas and tissue. By choosing to become a donor, you have the power to donate life.”
Did you know …
- More than 120,000 men, women and children in the U.S. — 5,000 in New England — are waiting for life-saving transplants?
- Every 12 minutes another man, woman or child joins the national waiting list?
- An average of 22 people die each day waiting for their transplant?
- Tissue donations help more than 1 million individuals each year?
- Heart valve, bone, skin, tendon, ligament and corneal donations provide new chances for health and sight?
In 2017, more than 34,700 transplants brought renewed life to patients & their families through donation. Register as a donor when receiving/renewing your driver’s license or at www.RegsiterMe.org. Learn more at neds.org/donor-registry.
