Saving Lives Through Organ and Tissue Donation Starts with One YES
Saving Lives Through Organ and Tissue Donation Starts with One YES
Southwest Transplant Alliance invites the community to celebrate
National Donate Life Month through advocacy, honor and action
DALLAS, April 1, 2022 – A single word can become a sign of hope for the more than 10,000 Texans on the transplant waiting list. Saying “YES” to being an organ, eye and tissue donor is a selfless decision that can save the lives of up to eight people and improve the lives of more than 75 others.
April is National Donate Life Month, and Southwest Transplant Alliance (STA), a nonprofit organ procurement organization, invites all Texans to learn more about the part they can play in saving lives. Throughout the month, STA will highlight those impacted by “YES”, including donor heroes, recipients, those on the waitlist and the healthcare teams that facilitate the gift of life every day.
“While becoming a donor is a lifesaving decision that can be made any day of the year, National Donate Life Month is an opportune time to understand the immense impact of your ‘YES’,” said STA President Brad Adams. “We invite every person to play a role this month, whether it’s through sharing stories, registering your decision to be a donor or talking to your loved ones about your wishes. We all have the power to save lives.”
YES = HOPE
Melinda Thomas (Lumberton) holds on to hope on behalf of her miracle baby, Charlie. Now 15, Charlie was born with just one kidney and has been on the transplant waiting list since 2020. To Charlie, One YES would mean better energy, the ability to play sports, attend school and live a normal teenage life.
YES = LIFE
Caroline Browning (Dallas) has witnessed the impact of YES in her own family. Her uncle, Gary, received the gift of life through two generous kidney donors when Caroline was a child. A few years later, her father saved lives as an organ donor. Now, Caroline walks beside donor families just like her own as a member of STA’s Family Care team, dedicating her career to the gift of life.
YES = LEGACY
Angel Servin (Tyler) proves that the gift of life can come from anyone. 20-month-old Angel saved three lives through donation, including a three-year-old boy who received his heart in 2017. Now, Angel’s legacy lives on and the Servin family looks forward to meeting the child their son saved through donation in April.
STA will honor National Donate Life Month and the power of YES during:
· Blue & Green Day (April 22): Supporters are encouraged to wear and decorate these colors to raise awareness for donation. STA invites everyone to participate and share their support on social media using #NDLM2022 and #BlueAndGreenDay
· National Pediatric Transplant Week (April 24-30): Dedicated to focusing on the stories of children affected by donation and ending the pediatric transplant waiting list.
But STA’s commitment to saving lives isn’t limited to April. On May 7, STA will host the annual Hope Starts Here 5K, with all proceeds supporting the lifesaving work of the STA Foundation. Participants can register as an individual or team, with the option of racing in-person in Addison, TX, or virtually.
Registering your YES to donation is the first step to saving lives. There are several ways to register:
· Online at www.organ.org/register
· When you get or renew your Texas Driver’s License or state ID
· Using the MedID tab of the Health App on your iPhone or iPad
· By completing a paper form by mail
Para más información en español, visita www.organ.org/espanol
About Southwest Transplant Alliance
Southwest Transplant Alliance (STA) is a nonprofit organization based in Dallas, Texas, that saves lives by fulfilling the gifts of organ and tissue donation. Founded in 1974, STA has facilitated more than 35,000 organs for recovery and enhanced the lives of tens of thousands of people through tissue recovery. STA is among the largest of 57 federally designated, nonprofit organ procurement organizations (OPOs) in the United States and is a member of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). Established in 2018, the STA Foundation provides care for families, community education, and research in transplant science. STA serves communities in North Texas, Beaumont, Bryan/College Station, Corpus Christi, El Paso, Galveston, Midland/Odessa, Temple, Tyler and Wichita Falls. For more information, go to ORGAN.ORG.