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Gift of life: consider becoming an organ donor

As I reflect on 2014, the word gratitude comes to mind.

Gratitude for the hundreds of Central Ohioans who gave the selfless gift of organs, eyes or tissues this year, resulting in countless lives saved and restored.

Gratitude for the thousands of Ohioans who made the decision to become registered organ, eye and tissue donors. Each “yes” could potentially mean eight lives saved by an organ transplant and dozens more healed through cornea and tissue transplants.

Gratitude for my dedicated colleagues at Lifeline of Ohio, this year celebrating our 30th anniversary as the federally-designated organ procurement organization serving Central and Southeastern Ohio. We have the immense privilege of honoring donors’ wishes and providing donation services in the hospitals throughout our service area. Through the work we do, we see first-hand the life-saving impact saying “yes” to donation can make. Over the last 30 years we have worked with 2,221 donors and 6,995 families to facilitate 7,299 organ transplants at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s Comprehensive Transplant Program, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and transplant centers across the state and nation.

For those who haven’t made the decision to become a donor yet, I ask you to consider this. Right now, nearly 124,000 Americans (3,400 Ohioans) are on the United Network of Organ Sharing’s waiting list for a transplant. Unfortunately, not enough people are registered to donate critical live-saving and healing gifts to fulfill this monumental need. Myths, such as the fear that emergency room doctors won’t save your life if you have the donor symbol on your driver’s license, or misconceptions like worrying that donation will change funeral plans, prevent people from registering as donors. I encourage anyone with questions about the donation process or wishing to register today to visit www.lifelineofohio.org or call 800-525-5667.

One person can make an amazing difference by sharing the gift of life at the time of death. This gift-giving season please consider saying “yes” to donation. And, as you come together with your loved ones for holiday festivities, share your wishes with them.

Kent Holloway

Chief executive officer, Lifeline of Ohio

President, Association of Organ Procurement Organizations

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