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April 2010 Spotlight: Donation awareness

posted April 16th, 2010

April is National Donate Life Month.

Many activities will be taking place throughout the month in support of donation awareness.

The sobering facts: 105,964 people are currently on the national waiting list for transplantation; 3,418 of those are North Carolina residents.

A high-flying project designed to raise awareness about donation and transplantation is coming to fruition. Donate Life America is spearheading an initiative called “Flags Across America” in which every donor hospital, every transplant center, every hospital supporting donation, every recovery organization and, perhaps, even the homes of recipients, donor families and candidates, all fly Donate Life Flags during the entire month of April 2010. At Duke, the flags will be displayed in entry areas of Duke North and Duke South.

As part of the planned educational initiative, Duke Hospital will kick off Donation Awareness in April with the organ procurement organizations providing on-site representatives to answer frequently asked questions about the donation process. Representatives will display educational materials and resources in the Duke South cafeteria lobby on April 20 and Duke North Atrium on April 21 from 11:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

The Wall of Hope, a photographic wall of the “Faces of Donation,” will be displayed during the Month of May in Duke North Lobby. Displayed in the Duke North Mars Gallery will be the Donation Awareness Exhibit containing information on donation, including the Heart Prevails Driver’s License Consent and the Power of Donation.

Interested in finding out more about the organ donation process? Contact Carolina Donor Services at www.carolinadonorservices.org.

As a resident of North Carolina, you should take the following steps to ensure your decision to become a donor is carried out:

  • Request a heart on your driver's license or state ID at the NC Department of Motor Vehicles.
  • Register online as an organ, eye and tissue donor at www.donatelifenc.org.

Always remember: It is important to tell your family members that you have decided to become a donor so that they will understand your decision and support it.