April is National Donate Life Month, and every year, Arkansas Regional Organ Recovery Agency, partners with Donate Life America in the celebration of National Donate Life Month to focus attention on organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation. This year, however, National Donate Life Month activities are being conducted as virtual events.
"This April, we want to remind everyone that they can help save and restore lives. Registering your decision to be an organ, tissue and eye donor takes less than a minute and gives hope to those waiting. The decision to register as a donor is the beginning of a story that may bring life and healing to more than 75 people, their families and their communities," Alan Cochran, president and executive director of ARORA, said in a news release.
During April, ARORA celebrates that 68 percent of Arkansas adults have registered their decision to make life possible as organ, tissue and eye donors at the time of their death. ARORA is also dedicated to bringing attention to the national transplant waiting list, 115,000 people are currently waiting for a lifesaving transplant. On average, 22 people die each day because the organ they need is not donated in time -- almost one person dying every hour. Thousands more people are waiting for lifesaving and healing tissue and eye transplants, the release said.
Arkansans can register to become organ, tissue and eye donors at donatelifearkansas.org, at their local Department of Motor Vehicles or by utilizing one of ARORA's swipe kiosks located in Little Rock, Cabot, Bryant and Pine Bluff.
National Donate Life Month has three national elements and features celebrations that ARORA participates and supports:
• National Donate Life Blue & Green Day -- April 17.
• National Pediatric Transplant Week -- April 19-25.
• National Donor Day of Remembrance -- April 30.
Society on 04/05/2020