ALBANY, N.Y. — As part of April’s National Donate Life Month (NDLM), Donate Life America (DLA) is making the appeal to New Yorkers to give the gift of life.
According to a press release, this annual observance recognizes the critical nationwide shortage of organ, eye and tissue donors and celebrates the lives saved through the generous and selfless gift of organ and tissue donation.
NDLM offers a stark reminder that while there were 48,000 organ transplants made possible through 24,000 donors in 2024, nationally, more than 100,000 people remain on the national transplant waiting list, including more than 8,000 New Yorkers, the release said. While 170 million people are currently registered as donors, it is not enough to ensure that those in need can receive a matched organ in time.
“National Donate Life Month is vitally important to raising awareness of the critical shortage of organ and tissue donors and the crushing need that goes unmet each year,” Laura Aussicker, senior hospital and community services specialist for the Center for Donation and Transplant in Upstate New York and Vermont, said in the release. “Too many families lose loved ones who could be saved through the generous gift of organ and tissue donation.
“There is no better way to honor life than by providing the gift of an organ or tissue which can help our neighbors avoid needless loss or suffering,” she continued. “The process of becoming a donor is easy but the lives of those needing transplants is not. It costs nothing to give the gift of life, but it is the most precious and valuable gift of all.”
Anyone 16 years or older can make the decision to become an organ or tissue donor through a number of convenient ways including their Department of Motor Vehicles driver’s license, through the New York State Health Plan Marketplace when applying for coverage, and even through the voter registration process, the release said. While New Yorkers are ranked third highest in terms of organ and tissue donation need, the state ranks number 47 out of 50 states in terms of registered organ donors.
Donors have control over the extent of their donation and can even choose to donate specific organs or make an unrestricted blanket donation, the release said. The Center for Donation & Transplant (CDT) represents Donate Life America locally in 30 upstate New York counties and in western Vermont and works to empower members of local communities to help save the lives of their neighbors in need.
According to the release, a single donor can change the lives of more than 75 people through their organ and tissue donation, creating a legacy that allows the hopes and dreams of donor and recipient alike to endure far into the future. CDT’s mission of convincing donors and their families to say yes to donating, even during times of grieving and hardship, is making a difference for those whose lives and quality of life require transplantation.
To participate in National Donate Life Month, register to be a donor at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), or visit cdtnyvt.org.
