Every April, OhioHealth collaborates with organizations nationwide to observe National Donate Life Month, promoting awareness of organ, eye, and tissue donation. This month-long initiative aims to recognize those who have contributed to saving lives.
Initiated by Donate Life America in 2003, the campaign aims to encourage donor registration and celebrate individuals who have given the gift of life. It highlights how one "yes" can impact more than just one life.
The demand for transplants remains a significant issue in Ohio. Approximately 3,000 residents are on the waiting list for life-saving transplants, with nearly 1,000 of them located in central Ohio. Statistics show that every two days, an Ohioan dies while waiting for an available organ.
Partnership plays a crucial role in the donation process. At OhioHealth, healthcare professionals, in collaboration with Lifeline of Ohio—a nonprofit coordinating organ donation in central Ohio—strive to facilitate donations.
“Donation starts with a yes. And with that yes, I think about all the lives that can be saved and healed,” states Andrew Mullins, CEO of Lifeline of Ohio. He underscores that successful donations are a collective endeavor, involving multiple hospital staff.
“It takes your doctors, it takes your nurses, your chaplains, and your respiratory therapists. Everyone throughout the entire hospital,” says Mullins emphasizing the collaborative nature of the process.
Recently enacted legislation, House Bill 256, has expanded registration options for donors in Ohio. Signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine, an organ donor himself, the bill allows residents to sign up as donors when obtaining fishing or hunting licenses.
“By educating more people, we increase awareness. The more we increase awareness, the more everyone is informed about the process,” Mullins adds, highlighting the legislation’s impact on donor registration.
Opportunities to register as a donor abound, whether through renewing a driver's license, applying for a fishing license, or initiating discussions with family and friends.