Organization Advocates for Organ Donation

In the last 10 years, more than 2,000 Ohioans have died waiting for an organ transplant.

One Ohio organization is trying to combat this issue by educating the public on the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation. Lifeline of Ohio promotes and facilitates human organ donations, in an effort to help save lives. Currently in Muskingum County, more than 60 percent of residents are registered organ donors.

“It extends someone’s life and it’s also a good thing, it’s a good thing to leave a legacy of life and hope…and you know there’s 123,000 people waiting for a life-saving organ and that’s a real number, so you can potentially help eight people by signing up,” said Media & Public Relations Coordinator, Jessica Petersen.

One organ donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and heal more than 50 through tissue donation. Petersen said the fear to donate stems from many myths and misconceptions.

“People think that if they sign up to be an organ donor, if they were to get in a car wreck or have something traumatic happen that the medical professional won’t work to save their lives, so that’s a myth we come against a lot, and I’m here to tell you that the medical professionals trying to save your life are doing exactly that, they’re trying to save your life, organ donation only moves forward after death has been declared,” Petersen said.

Ohioans can register to become a donor online in the Ohio Donor Registry, at lifelineofohio.org.