On National Donor Day: Watch a mom meet the woman saved by her late son's kidney
Saving a life or improving someone's quality of life is the ultimate act of kindness. Sometimes, it involves headline heroics, like rescuing someone from drowning. Other times the hero attracts very little attention. Such is the case with organ, eye, tissue, blood, and marrow donors.
On February 14 each year, all these generous donations are highlighted on National Donor Day.
National Donor Day was created in 1998 as a day to celebrate donors and recipients, and an opportunity to spread awareness about the importance of all types of physical donations, from giving blood to lifesaving transplants.
According to the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), there are currently more than 100,000 people on the national transplant waiting list in the U.S. and it’s estimated that an average of 17 people die each day waiting for a transplant.
Watch the video at the top to see a grieving mom meet the woman saved by her late son's kidney donation
Just one donor can save multiple lives, but not enough people are registered donors. Of course, signing up as an organ and tissue donor means confronting your own mortality, which is tough to do. But, in the unfortunate event that your life is cut short, there is no better legacy than giving the gift of life to others.
To take part in National Donor Day you can:
- Sign up to donate blood.
- Share your story if you’re a donation recipient.
- Investigate becoming a registered donor.
- Talk to your loved ones about organ and tissue donation.
National Donor Day is an education and a celebration, but above all, an invitation to help save and heal more lives.
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