This is National Donate Life Month, when everyone’s encouraged to sign up to be an organ donor. Spectrum Health Lakeland registered nurse Maureen Bishop tells WSJM News nearly 2,600 people in Michigan, and more than 106,000 nationwide, are awaiting organ transplants. One person could save up to 75 people with gift of life donations.
“More than 9,000 Michigan patients have received a life-giving organ transplant in the past 10 years, and tens of thousands have benefitted from tissue and corneal transplants,” Bishop said. “Each day in the United States, we know there’s an average of more than 90 lives saved by an organ transplant from a deceased donor.”
However, about 20 die each day waiting for a transplant. In Michigan, all you have to do to sign up to be an organ donor is choose that option when you renew your driver’s license. Bishop urges those who want to be donors to also make that clear to their families.
