This weekend, a bright light went out in this community.
Taylor Fleming’s star won’t shine on us anymore.
But because of her family’s selfless decision to donate her organs, a part of her will live on in 60 people.
In New York and nationwide, there remains a huge disparity between the number of registered organ donors and the number of patients awaiting an organ transplant. Nationwide, 112,000 a year await an organ transplant; in New York State, the number is close to 10,000. Every 13 hours, someone dies waiting for an organ transplant statewide.
Registering to become an organ donor is a charitable act that costs nothing. It allows a donor to save up to 8 lives through organ donation, and to save or improve the lives of up to 50 recipients through tissue donation.
While it is always difficult to lose a loved one, many grieving families of organ donors can take comfort in the fact that their loss may help to save or improve the lives of others.
For organ donor recipients, meanwhile, a transplant often means a second chance at life. Vital organs such as the heart, pancreas, liver, intestines, kidneys and lungs can be transplanted to those whose organs are failing. For some, an organ transplant means no longer having to be dependent on costly routine treatments to survive. It allows many recipients to return to a normal life. For others, a cornea or tissue transplant means the ability to see again or the recovery of mobility and freedom from pain.
Becoming a donor is easy. You can do one of the following:
At the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV): Check off the donor box on your driver’s license application or renewal form, or when applying for or renewing a non-driver identification card.
Online: Fill out the Donor Registry enrollment form at donatelifeny.org. Once you’ve filled out the form online, print it, sign it, and mail it to the New York State Department of Health.
By mail: Download a Donor Registry enrollment form and mail it to:
New York Organ Donor Network
460 West 34th St.
15th Floor
New York, New York 10001
For more information, visit donatelifeny.org.
