There are more than 100,000 people in the United States alone waiting for an organ transplant. There are even more than that awaiting donated tissue. There are more than 6,000 lives lost annually waiting for a transplants due to the lack of tissue and organ donations. Donate Life Indiana, formerly known as the Indiana Donation Alliance Foundation, has been working for nearly 20 years to educate Hoosiers on the benefits of being an organ donor.
People waiting for an organ donation are placed on a national computerized waiting list and matched to donor organs based on criteria such as blood and tissue type,immune status,medical urgency and time spent on the waiting list. The most needed organ is the kidney, with more than 87,000 people waiting for a transplant. Other life saving organs for transplant include the heart, pancreas, lungs, liver and intestines. Tissues, such as bones, ligaments and tendons are needed for important surgical procedures to repair injured or diseased joints and bones. Skin, corneas and heart valves can also be donated.
Currently there are more than 1,000 people in Indiana awaiting a transplant of some kind. To become an donor in this state you must first confirm your intention by registering with the state organ donor database at Donate Life Indiana. The next step is to use your Indiana driver’s license to display your choice. When you receive a new driver’s license you will be asked whether or not you are a donor. If you answer yes, the word donor will appear on your ID along with a little red heart. Your BMV record will also reflect the fact that your are a registered donor. When making these decisions, always share specifics with family members to ensure that your wishes are definitely followed after you pass away.
