April 17, 2013
April 17, 2013—There are 915 people on a waiting list to receive a life-saving organ in Oregon alone. Nationally, there are over 116,000 people waiting for a transplant according to the United Network for Organ Sharing. Donate Life Northwest in conjunction with Adventist Medical Center will be unveiling the Threads of Life Quilt on Sunday, April 21 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. in the Atrium of the hospital to commemorate the compassion of donors. The quilt will feature squares created by those connected to, and affected by donation and transplantation. The unveiling is an opportunity for the community to learn more about organ donor registration and see the quilt inspired by heroes who have donated eyes, tissue or organs for transplant. Donate Life Northwest encourages everyone to register to be a donor to ensure that as many lives as possible are saved and improved each day through the miracle of donation and transplantation. Becoming a registered donor in Oregon is simple. Add the “D” code on your Oregon driver’s license application when you are up for renewal or when you are getting your license, permit or ID card for the first time. Other options are to go online any time at www.donatelifenw.org to register or request a paper form by calling 1-800-452-1369. There are 110 million registered organ, eye and tissue donors in the United States, 2.2 million from the state of Oregon. Still, the number of people in need of transplants continues to rise. Events such as the tragedy in Boston this week remind us the importance of tissue, organ and eye donors.
