April is National Donate Life Month

During an unprecedented time, Southwest Transplant Alliance continues its lifesaving mission for those awaiting a transplant

DALLAS - April 1, 2020 – April is National Donate Life Month, an annual observance dedicated to raising awareness of organ, eye and tissue donation across the United States. While traditional programs, celebrations and events are canceled in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Southwest Transplant Alliance continues its lifesaving work, and we encourage communities across Texas to support the need for donation.

The wait list can’t wait.

More than 112,000 men, women and children across the United States are currently awaiting a lifesaving organ transplant. That includes more than 10,000 people in Texas. The need for donation far exceeds the number of donors each year, thus an average of 20 people on the waiting list die each day waiting for a transplant.

STA is still saving lives.

The safety of our staff, communities, donors, families and transplant recipients is the top priority for STA. In mid-March, STA announced new protocols to ensure every potential organ donor was tested for COVID-19, and the organization has implemented numerous internal changes such as remote work for all non-frontline staff, to reduce exposure risks. With those changes, STA is continuing its operations to minimize any disruption in its essential lifesaving work.

Everyone can help.

In order for STA to continue saving lives, and for the rest of our healthcare community to address the current needs surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to encourage all our communities to stay home and follow CDC recommendations for social distancing. However, there are still ways the public can support donation:

1. Talk to your friends and family about your – and their – wishes about organ, eye and tissue donation.
2. Register your decision to be a donor at www.donatelifetexas.org.
3. Donate extra PPE items to your local hospitals or to Southwest Transplant Alliance teams.
4. Share your support of donation on social media, using #DonateLife and #OutliveYourself