Governor Kicks-Off Donate Life Month

(Lincoln, Neb.)  Gov. Dave Heineman today launched Nebraska’s observance of April as Donate Life Month. Donate Life Month is part of a national observance to increase awareness for lifesaving organ and tissue donations.

“With more than 400 adults and children in Nebraska waiting for a potentially lifesaving transplant, National Donate Life Month brings attention to an important need,” Gov. Heineman said. “I thank those families who have so selflessly given others a fighting chance at life.”

The Governor was joined by Dr. Joann Schaefer, Chief Medical Officer, Beverly Neth, Director of the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles, and Vickie Ahlers, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Nebraska Organ and Tissue Donor Coalition.

In Nebraska, 427 individuals are on a waiting list for organ and tissue donations. In 2008, 288 Nebraskans received lifesaving organ transplants, including Dr. Schaefer who received a liver transplant from a living donor last spring. Neth has twice received living kidney donations from relatives.

Dr. Schaefer said, “I will be eternally grateful for the gift of life from my donor. It is an amazing feeling to suddenly feel healthy and have my life back. I want those waiting to feel the same thing that I have been so lucky to experience.”

This year, the number of designated donors on the Nebraska Donor Registry increased to 705,378, surpassing the goal of 700,000 set two years ago by the Nebraska Organ and Tissue Donor Coalition. More than 50 percent of licensed drivers in Nebraska are designated as organ donors.

Neth said, “I take pride in knowing that DMV personnel, particularly those in Driver Licensing, make a difference; however, our involvement pales in comparison to the decision of hundreds of thousands of Nebraskans who have signified that they want to be organ and tissue donors.”

Ahlers said, “We are proud to be part of this important effort and we thank people throughout our state for rising to the challenge. The Coalition has also received a great deal of support from Beverly Neth and the Department of Motor Vehicles. We offer our thanks and appreciation as we work together to support such a tremendous endeavor.”

Seven Nebraska counties had at least 50 percent of applicants for driver’s license or state identification cards join the Nebraska Donor Registry in 2008. They are:

• Kearney County / Gosper County (tie)-53.3%
• Phelps County- 52.9%
• Sarpy County -50.9%
• Washington County-50.2%
• Cass County -50.1%
• Arthur County-50.0%

Each of these counties will receive a framed certificate acknowledging their accomplishment. DMV records indicated that 69 Nebraska counties have a donor designation rate between 40 and 49.9 percent. Nationwide, there are 79.7 million designated donors, or 38 percent of licensed drivers in the United States.

Citizens wishing to register as donors can visit http://www.nedonation.org, or choose the option when they apply for or renew their Nebraska’s driver’s license.