The University of Vermont Health Network – Central Vermont Medical Center (CVMC), in partnership with New England Donor Services (NEDS), marks Donate Life Month in February.
The observation remembers those who’ve given the gift of life through organ and tissue donation and celebrates recipients living more healthfully as a result of that choice. Ongoing awareness campaigns through CVMC continue urging Vermonters to consider becoming donors.
2018’s awareness efforts earned CVMC national recognition for promoting enrollment in state organ donor registries. CVMC was recently among a select group of hospitals earning silver recognition for support of a campaign sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). HRSA’s Workplace Partnership for Life Hospital Campaign added more than 400,000 donor enrollments nationwide.
“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?
Register as a donor when receiving/renewing your driver’s license or at www.RegsiterMe.org. Learn more at neds.org/donor-registry.
