Organ Donation Month is Celebrated at Down East Community Hospital

April is National Organ Donation Awareness Month and Down East Community Hospital wishes to remind the community that by becoming an organ, tissue, marrow or blood donor, you can save a life. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) April 09, 2009 - Machias-- More than 98,000 people are in need of an organ donation for a transplant. Each day, about 77 people receive a donation that offers them a second chance, but there are about 18 others who die because they were unable to get that life-saving transplant in time. And, more than half of the people on the organ donation waiting list are racial or ethnic minorities. The chances of finding the right match for a transplant increase if donor and recipient share the same ethnic or racial background.

How do you become an organ donor? It is as simple as making it known by taking one or all of the following steps:

o Say YES on your driver’s license
o Tell your family, friends, physician and clergy that you wish to be a donor
o Fill out and sign a donor card, have it witnessed and carry it with you.

“By making your wishes known, not only can you potentially save a life, but you also serve as example for others to follow,” states Down East Community Hospital CEO, Wayne Dodwell. “I encourage anyone to contact Sue Dorr, LSW, in our Case Management Department at 255-0222. Sue is a great resource for information on how to become an organ donor.”

http://www.dech.org/

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