April 7, 2003             Projected Goal

To kick off April as Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Month, Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land is urging residents to become unsung heroes by enrolling in Michigan's donor registry.

"Heroes come in many forms," Secretary Land said. "Even the smallest displays of compassion and conviction are as heroic as the bravest of deeds. Becoming an organ donor is a simple act, but it is a decision that can save the life of another. It is people helping people, strangers helping strangers. Such selflessness defines what Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Month is all about. So please ‘Give So Others Can Live.'"

Land made her comments today during news conferences at Spectrum Health's Butterworth Campus in Grand Rapids, and at Secretary of State branch offices in Southfield and Flint. To promote the importance of organ donation, Secretary Land joined with organ donor officials, physicians, transplant recipients and their families, to share compelling stories about organ donation.

"This is truly a life or death situation," Secretary Land said. "There are nearly 2,400 seriously ill people in Michigan who are desperately waiting for an organ transplant. The organ, tissue and eye donation enrollment campaign is their only hope."

In conjunction with the kickoff, the Department of State hosted its annual "Buddy Day" at nearly 100 branch offices. Gift of Life volunteers known as "buddies" are invited to branch offices from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to meet with the public and discuss organ donation.

The "buddies" are actual organ donor recipients or family members of a recipient or donor. They share their experiences with the public and help sign people up on Michigan's Donor Registry. This year saw more participation than ever with 150 "buddies" attending.

For more than a decade, the Secretary of State's Office has partnered with the Gift of Life Organization to advocate greater donor awareness through Buddy Day.

Tom Beyersdorf, Gift of Life executive director, was on hand and accepted from Secretary Land an executive declaration marking April as Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Month.

"We are looking forward to working with Secretary Land to encourage even more families to make their donation wishes known by joining the donor registry," Beyersdorf said. "With the support of the Michigan Department of State, the Gift of Life Donor Registry has consistently increased since its inception in 1994, and it still has incredible growth potential."

To date, the Secretary of State's Office has submitted nearly 650,000 names of Michigan residents to the donor registry thanks to the department's enrollment program. The Secretary of State Web site lets residents register online at www.michigan.gov/sos. Donor enrollment cards also are available at any Secretary of State branch office and are mailed with every driver's license and state identification card.

In 2002, the Gift of Life Organization reported 226 Michigan organ donors, who saved or enhanced the lives of 553 recipients. That represents a 3 percent increase from the previous year.

The number of tissue donations for 2002 also increased 3 percent. The Gift of Life reported 743 tissue donors for the year. Tissues include heart valves, veins, skin, corneas and tendons. Furthermore, the Michigan Eye Bank reported 1,116 eye donations in 2002. Eye donations include corneal transplants as well as donations of eye tissues, and the eye itself for research.

The Gift of Life Organization is Michigan's only 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 Organization at 1-800-482-4881.

Related Links
>  Photo Gallery 1

>  Enrollment Program Progress Chart