Give the Gift of Life - Support Donate Life Month

Did you know that participating in Donate Life Month this April is one of the easiest ways to help make a difference? According to Donate Life America, more than 116,000 men, women, and children across the country are awaiting lifesaving organ transplants. Every 10 minutes, another name is added to the national organ transplant waiting list. Your generous decision to become an organ, eye, or tissue donor could bring renewed health to patients, their families, and their communities.

In Maryland alone, approximately 3,600 people are currently waiting for a life-saving transplant. The decision to become a donor could affect the lives of not just the person receiving the donation, but also their loved ones. It’s a decision that ensures that you leave behind a legacy of giving to those in need, too.

This Donate Life Month, celebrate the gift of life by joining Frederick Regional Health System (FRHS) and the more than 140,000 Frederick County residents who are registered to save and enhance lives with organ, eye, and tissue donations. We hope you’ll consider taking that step by registering to become a donor.

Support Donate Life Month

Every April, we celebrate National Donate Life Month to promote organ, eye, and tissue donation awareness and celebrate those who’ve given the gift of life.

This month-long observance features local, regional, and national activities and initiatives that include Donate Life flag raisings, information tables, and donor memorial ceremonies. Locally in Frederick, here’s how you can support donation this April:

• Participate in “Flags Across America” by raising the Donate Life flag in April in honor of organ, eye, and tissue donors. We’ll be raising our flag on April 13th.
• Be seen—wear green or blue on National Blue and Green Day on Friday, April 13. It’s the color of awareness for organ donation.
• Participate in the #In1Word challenge on social media and share photos and stories related to donation. Tell us why you’re passionate about this cause and use the hashtag #In1Word. You can even write the reason for your support on a printable sign, which can be downloaded here.

Becoming a Donor is Easy!

Organ donation is a powerful gift. By registering as a donor, you can save eight people and the lives of up to 50 people are enhanced through your gift. Anyone 18 or older can register as an organ donor.

Registering online is fast, easy to do, and completely secure. To register, just visit the Maryland Donor Registry or ORGANIZE.org to fill out the form and add your name to the national donor database. Make sure you have your driver license and ID # with you.

You can also register to become a donor in person when you apply for or renew your license at the MVA. While there, an MVA representative will ask you to read and answer questions about organ donation choices. If you choose to register as a donor, you’ll be given the option of having the heart symbol noted on your license or ID. You can check or change your registration status any time online or at the MVA.

The Living Legacy Foundation

For years, the Living Legacy Foundation of Maryland has worked to save lives through organ and tissue donation, inspire Marylanders to help make a difference and register for organ donation, and pay tribute to the legacy of organ donors who have given life to those in need. The Foundation provides information to the public on how to register as a donor, the facts about donation, dispelling common myths about organ donation, and how volunteers and supporters can get involved.

You can even read incredible, personal stories of how receiving a transplant or being close to someone who provided one has changed other people’s lives.

Register as a Donor Today!

Becoming a donor truly is the gift of a lifetime. The lives of individuals and their families are transformed by the miracle of organ, tissue, and eye donation. Making the monumental decision to become a registered donor makes an invaluable impact on their lives. Join us in celebrating Donate Life Month this April. For more information on how you can make a difference, visit Donate Life Maryland today.