Only two to three percent of the population dies in a manner that allows for organ donation, that’s why advocates say it’s imperative that everyone signs up.
Trey Schwab is the Outreach Coordinator for the UW Hospital Organ Procurement Organization. “Well we have eight transplantable organs, so one person being an organ donor can save eight lives just through the organ donation.”
Organs that can be donated include the kidneys, liver, pancreas, heart, lungs, and intestine. In addition to saving lives, donation improves lives. Schwab explains one cornea donor can potentially give sight back to two recipients. He estimates that a minimum of about 60 lives can be improved from just one tissue donor.
“When you look at tissue donation, it really can be an astronomical number I’ve heard of cases of well over 100, 120, 150 people whose lives might be improved through the tissue donation that happens from one donor.”
More than 650,000 people have registered to become organ donors since the Wisconsin Donor Registry was established a year ago this week; still more than 1,700 people in the Badger State are awaiting a life saving transplant, and thousands wait for a bone or soft tissue transplant so they can live without pain.
Individuals can legally authorize the donation of their organs by registering online at YesIWillWisconsin.com. April is Donate Life Month.
AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report 1:40
Related story: Wisconsin Donor Registry is one year old
