April is National Donate Life Month. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White kicked off the State’s organ/tissue donor campaign Tuesday, April 6, 2016, as part of a Statewide effort to encourage registration and awareness at all 138 Driver Services facilities. Currently, there are more than 5.9 million people registered to become organ/tissue donors in Illinois. However, more than 5000 persons are on the waiting list for organs. About 300 people die each year waiting for a transplant.
“Since many registrations happen at our facilities, we want to be sure that people are informed when making the decision to give the gift of life,” said White. “There are many myths that make some people fearful about donation, and we want to dispel those concerns.”
White held a press conference at the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago. In attendance were 7-year-olds Luke and Jake Swanson, whose lives were saved because of organ donors. In addition, Secretary of State employee Fatrice Austin-Geiger, a two-time kidney recipient, and 14-year-old heart recipient Nicholas Lindblad spoke about how organ donation impacted their lives.
“We encourage Illinoisans to join the Secretary of State’s Organ and Tissue Donor Registry,” said White. “It takes less than a minute. One person can improve the quality of life for up to 25 people.”
Register with the Secretary of State Organ/Tissue Donor Program at LifeGoesOn.com, 1-800-210-2106, or by visiting their local Driver Services facility.
Donate Life Illinois partners include the American Liver Foundation-Illinois, Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network; Eversight; Illinois Secretary of State Organ/Tissue Donor Program; LifeSource; Mid-America Transplant Services; Rock River Valley Blood Center; National Kidney Foundation of Illinois.