MARCH 18, 2008

April is designated ‘Donate Life Month' to raise awareness of need

In April, the Department of State kicks off its annual organ donor campaign, giving residents an opportunity to help transform the life of someone waiting for an organ, tissue or eye transplant.

Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land said that it only takes a few minutes of time and a "little heart" to make a difference to those in need of a second chance at life. When residents add their name to the Michigan Organ Donor Registry, they receive a heart sticker designating their wish to be an organ, tissue or eye donor for their driver's license or state identification card.

Land will bring this lifesaving call to action to an April 1 news conference at the Hotel St. Regis in Detroit. April is designated nationally as "Donate Life Month" and its organ donor message is especially significant for the Motor City because African-Americans comprise 38 percent of the patients waiting for a transplant in Michigan.

"Every minute is precious to someone waiting for a transplant," Land said. "So far this year, 165 transplants have helped save or enhance the lives of numerous people. Unfortunately, nearly 3,100 Michigan residents are on the waiting list. We need every eligible person, young and old, to sign up on the donor registry. If you've signed up in the past and don't have a little heart sticker on your license or ID card, you need to re-enroll. Take a moment to sign up and make a difference in someone's life."

The department's Web site makes registering easy with its online enrollment program at www.Michigan.gov/sos. Residents may also sign up at any Secretary of State office.

Joining Land on April 1 will be representatives from Gift of Life Michigan and the Michigan Eye-Bank. Transplant recipients, donor families and members of the health-care community will also share their stories.

Wednesday, April 2, Land will be in the Grand Rapids area to promote Buddy Day, a day when Secretary of State offices will host teams of organ, tissue and eye donor supporters, known as Buddies, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. These volunteers, many of whom are transplant recipients or from donor families, share their stories and encourage residents to add their names to the donor registry. So far, more than 350 Buddies have volunteered, providing coverage for nearly every office open on Buddy Day.

Land will continue to promote organ, tissue and eye donation at events in the Flint area on Tuesday, April 8 and Kalamazoo on Thursday, April 17.

There are 1,224,608 names on the donor registry.

Gift of Life Michigan is the state's certified, full-service organ recovery organization. The agency acts as an intermediary between donors, physicians and hospital staff. For more information about organ donation, contact Gift of Life Michigan at (800) 482-4881 or www.giftoflifemichigan.org.

The Michigan Eye-Bank's mission is the restoration of sight. It recovers, evaluates and distributes corneas for transplantation, supports eye and vision research and offers public and professional education on the importance of eye, organ and tissue donation. To learn more, call (800) 247-7250 or visit the organization's Web site at www.michiganeyebank.org.

For more information about the department's organ donation initiatives, visit its Web site at www.Michigan.gov/sos.

Editor's note: A list of the Secretary of State offices that are hosting a Buddy is available on the Department of State Web site. Telephone numbers for contacting a branch manager or a Buddy may be obtained by calling the department's Office of Communications at (517) 373-2520.