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April is National Donate Life Month
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April is National Donate Life Month
ST. MARY'S COUNTY - 4/13/2009
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St. Mary’s Hospital Encourages Marylanders to say ‘YES’ to Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation St. Mary’s Hospital and The Living Legacy Foundation of Maryland, a nonprofit organization providing a bridge between organ and tissue donors and those needing lifesaving transplants, encourages Marylanders to say “yes” to organ, eye and tissue donation this month as well as all year long. During National Donate Life Month, health care professionals, volunteers, educators, community groups, private organizations and the public are urged to make a special effort to celebrate the tremendous generosity of those who have saved lives by becoming organ, eye and tissue donors and to raise awareness for the urgent need for lifesaving organs and tissue.
“Last year, the national waiting list reached more than 100,000 people, and the gap between those who are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant and registered organ donors keeps widening every year,” said Charlie Alexander, president and CEO of the Living Legacy Foundation. “One of our goals is to provide advocacy and comprehensive public and professional education to help increase the number of designated organ donors throughout the state.”
In Maryland, nearly 2,000 patients are waiting for an organ transplant. Of those, more than half are in need of a kidney transplant.
“It is important for people to know the number of lives you can help by being an organ donor – not just the recipient but the families related to that person,” said the hospital’s Vice President for Nursing MaryLou Watson. “One donor can save eight lives and enhance more than 50. I cannot think of a more wonderful legacy to leave.”
You can say “yes” to organ, eye and tissue donation by registering online at www.donatelifemaryland.org, completing a donor designation form or by checking “yes” to organ donation when applying for or renewing a Maryland driver’s license. Remember, it is important to share your wishes about organ, eye and tissue donation with family members.
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