Edward-Elmhurst Health: Save lives--become an organ donor

Edward-Elmhurst Health and the Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network are inviting the community to participate in the annual Workplace Partnership for Life Hospital Organ Donor Registration Campaign.

The purpose of this initiative, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration in collaboration with Gift of Hope, is to expand awareness about the benefits of organ, eye and tissue donation and increase donor registration. More than 1,700 hospitals and healthcare organizations participate in this program nationwide.

There are more than 106,000 people in the U.S. who are waiting for an organ transplant. While 90% of U.S. adults support organ donation, only 60% are registered as donors. Organ, eye and tissue donation benefits people of all ages, including the very young and very old. Only 1% of deaths occur in a way that allows donation to take place, so the more donors who are registered the greater the opportunity to help others.

By becoming a registered organ and tissue donor, people could someday:

• Save up to eight lives through organ donation
• Restore sight in up to two people through eye donation
• Heal more than 75 people through tissue donation

Since the program’s inception in 2011, the campaign has generated more than 630,000 donor registrations. Organ, eye and tissue donation offers life and hope to those in need and their loved ones. Join Edward-Elmhurst Health and Gift of Hope in this effort and “say, yes” to becoming a registered organ and tissue donor today. It’s easy. Register at https://www.eehealth.org/ways-to-give/organ-and-tissue-donation .

Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network is a not-for-profit organization that coordinates organ and tissue donation and provides public education on donation in Illinois and northwest Indiana. To learn more about organ and tissue donation visit GiftofHope.org.