APRIL 11, 2005

Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land today joined with officials to celebrate the tremendous strides made in the field of organ donation but emphasized that the crucial need for organ donors continues to result in the loss of lives that could otherwise be saved.

"Over the past year, we have increased the number of names on the donor registry by more than 100,000, bringing the total to more than 840,000," Land said. "While we are close to reaching the million mark and have given hope to hundreds of critically ill patients in need, there are roughly 2,700 Michigan residents still waiting for a lifesaving transplant. To help prevent the tragic loss of life, I encourage you to discuss organ donation with your friends and family, and add your name to the Michigan Organ Donor Registry."

Land made her comments while observing the Department of State's annual "Buddy Day" during news conferences at Hurley Medical Center in Flint and William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. Joining Land were organ donor officials, physicians, transplant recipients and donor families, all of whom shared compelling stories about the benefits of organ and tissue donation. Buddy Day is an annual event in which Gift of Life Michigan and Michigan Eye-Bank volunteers meet with the public at Secretary of State branch offices to discuss the importance of organ donation.

"Today we celebrate the most successful Buddy Day ever, with more than 280 Buddies and 130 Secretary of State branch offices participating," Land said. "Michigan should be proud of its role in promoting organ donation."

Land explained that 2004 was a record-breaking year for organ donation. The number of recovered organs was up 33 percent from the previous year. Gift of Life Michigan reported that 920 organs were recovered from 276 donors. Tissue donations, such as heart valves, corneas and skin, reached 748, up from the previous year. As a result, hundreds of Michigan residents, who once faced uncertain futures, now look forward to much healthier, happier lives. However, nearly 2,700 people are still waiting for a transplant and about 14 will die each month because of a lack of donors.

Tom Beyersdorf, Gift of Life Michigan executive director, accepted an executive proclamation marking April as Michigan Donate Life Month.

"The successes we see in Michigan's organ donation efforts are a result of teamwork involving the Department of State, the Legislature, donation advocates, hospitals, donor families and recipients," Beyersdorf said. "Working together in support of the donor registry is the key to saving hundreds of lives each year in Michigan."

Recognition for outstanding work in advancing the cause of organ donation was given to lung transplant recipient Sister Marie Sweeney of Detroit and the advocacy group Spreading Organ Donation Awareness of Flint. Land presented each with a Shining Star award on behalf of the Department of State, commending them for their dedication.

The Secretary also applauded recent legislative initiatives that would allow residents to have a heart insignia placed on the front of their driver's licenses or state identification cards, immediately indicating the person's intent to be an organ and tissue donor.

Information about the Department of State's online donor enrollment program is available at www.Michigan.gov/sos. In addition to online enrollment, donor cards are available at all branch offices and are mailed with every driver's license and state identification card.

Gift of Life Michigan is the state's certified, full-service organ recovery organization. It acts as an intermediary to provide educational resources about organ donation for donors, recipients, physicians and hospital staff.

For more information about organ donation, contact the Gift of Life Michigan at 1- (800) 482-4881.