Leave a Legacy of Hope and Life

Each April, we celebrate National Donate Life Month — a time to honor the generosity of organ, eye and tissue donors and recognize the lives saved and healed through donation.

This year’s theme, “Leave a Legacy,” reminds us that one decision can create a lasting impact for generations. Like trees in a forest, we are all connected. Through donation, lives become intertwined, linking donors, recipients and their families in powerful and meaningful ways.

Just as a tree grows strong roots and reaches toward the future, a donor’s gift continues to grow — offering hope, healing and a second chance at life. The legacy of donation lives on in every life saved, every family restored and every future made possible.

During this month-long celebration, you can take part in several events and activities designed to honor those who have saved lives through the gift of organ donation. We also encourage everyone to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor.

Here are some reasons why registering right now is more important than ever:

• Of the more than 100,000 people in the U.S. waiting for a lifesaving transplant, nearly 3,000 are right here in Virginia.
• On average, 15 people die each day waiting because the organs they need are not donated in time.
• Another person is added to the transplant waiting list every 8 minutes.
• One organ donor can save and heal more than 75 lives.

If you haven’t already, please update your donor registration. It takes less than a minute — and your decision can bring hope to those waiting while strengthening the connections that bind our communities together.