Organ and tissue donation saves and enhances the lives of thousands of
Marylanders every year. Frederick Memorial Hospital is proud to support
donation and participate in National Donate Life Month (NDLM) this April.
NDLM is celebrated annually and features an entire month of local, regional,
and national activities to help encourage Americans to register as organ
and tissue donors. NDLM is also a time to celebrate those who have saved
lives through the gift of donation. In 2015, our hospital cared for 23
generous organ and tissue donors. Please join us in honoring their legacy
and supporting donation this April.
The Need for Organ and Tissue Donors
Every year, over a million lives are saved and enhanced by organ and tissue
donors. However, there is still a great need for donors. In the United
States, 22 people die every day after not receiving a transplant in time
and another name is added to the national organ transplant waiting list
every ten minutes. As the demand for transplantable organs rises, so does
the need for organ donors. There are two types of organ donors; deceased
donors and living donors, and both play a vital role in healing someone in need.
The living organ donation process allows living individuals to donate whole
kidneys or parts of the liver. This process can drastically cut down a
person’s wait on the transplant list. Up to eight lives can be saved
by one deceased donor through organ donation, and more than fifty lives
can be enhanced through tissue donation. Donation is only considered after
all life-saving efforts have been exhausted. Deceased donors can provide
tissues, corneas, and organs such as the kidneys, pancreas, liver, lungs,
heart, and intestines.
Who Receives a Transplant? And How?
There are currently more than 121,000 people in need of a lifesaving organ
transplant in the U.S., with over 3,700 in need right here in Maryland.
These patients receive a transplant based upon several factors including
blood type, tissue type, medical urgency, waiting time, expected benefit,
geography, and other medical criteria when a deceased donor is identified.
Celebrity or financial status is not a factor in receiving a transplant.
Federally designated organ procurement organizations (OPOs), like The
Living Legacy Foundation (The LLF) here in Maryland, coordinate and facilitate
organ and tissue donation. Many OPOs, like The LLF, include services like
donor family support, professional education, and community outreach.
How You Can Help – Saving Lives in One Word
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You can save and enhance lives through organ and tissue donation in one
word: Yes. By saying “yes” to donation at the MVA or registering
online at
donatelifemaryland.org, you can give hope to the thousands waiting for a life-saving transplant.
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Once you register as a donor, consider sharing your decisions with friends,
family, and your community through the #In1Word campaign for Donate Life
Month. Can you describe why you choose to be an organ and tissue donor
in one word? Visit
thellf.org for your printable #In1Word sign or simply share your one word on social
media using the hashtag #In1Word and encourage others to do the same.
Frederick Memorial Hospital is proud to partner with The Living Legacy
Foundation and Donate Life Maryland in raising awareness for this important
cause during Donate Life Month. We hope you will join us!