National Donate Life Month

Posted by Kathy Quan Apr 5, 2006

April is National Donate Life Month. In 2003, President Bush proclaimed the entire month of April to be recognized as a time to raise the public's awareness of the critical shortages of not only organ donors, but tissues, blodd and marrow donors as well. Previously April 22-29 was set aside as organ and tissue donation awareness, but that week often conflicted with other national awarenesses and many times overlapped Holy Week or Passover.

Over 87,000 Americans are awaiting an organ or tissue transplant. Seventy percent are in need of kidneys.

Make your wishes known by filling out and carrying an organ donor card and carrying it in your wallet. Download one here.

Other things you can do is sign up for the donor registry in your state, make your wishes known in your Advance Directives or Will, and discuss the issue with family members as well as your physician.