Give the Gift of Life: Be an Organ Donor
By: Shelby Levins
Updated: December 9, 2010
It's the gift-giving season. You can give the gift of life simply by
signing up to be an organ donor. Pam Silvestri with the Southwest
Transplant Alliance explains how you can sign up. And Heather Beadle, a local recipient, shares her story.
Silvestri says there are more than 100,000 people in the U.S. awaiting life-saving organ transplants. That means, every day, 18 people die before the organs they need become available. In Texas more than 10,000 people are waiting for organs right now.
The good news, however, Silvestri says about 30,000 people in America do get the transplants they need each year. So more people do get organs than don't, but if everyone who could donate would donate, then most people who need organs could get them.
Silvestri says there are more than 100,000 people in the U.S. awaiting life-saving organ transplants. That means, every day, 18 people die before the organs they need become available. In Texas more than 10,000 people are waiting for organs right now.
The good news, however, Silvestri says about 30,000 people in America do get the transplants they need each year. So more people do get organs than don't, but if everyone who could donate would donate, then most people who need organs could get them.
In Texas, more
than 1.2 million people are registered as donors, but Silvestri says, we can do
better! You can register at
www.donatelifetexas.org or at the DPS office.
