I was both relieved and honored to be a compatible match which meant that he didn’t have to be put on a waiting list for another donor. However, not many people have this option. According to the Division of Transplantation, the primary federal entity for the oversight of organ donation in the U.S., 17 people die every day waiting for a transplant. That’s why I encourage you to consider registering for organ donation. A healthy adult can save up to 8 lives with the donation of their vital organs. “Healthy” doesn’t mean “young,” either—the oldest organ donor in the U.S. was 92 and his generous gift saved the life of a 69-year-old woman. Whether you become a living donor, like me, or opt to donate as a final act of love, it is an extremely personal choice.
