Edward-Elmhurst Health urges community to register as organ donors

During National Donate Life Month in April, Edward-Elmhurst Health is encouraging members of the community to register at www.registerme.org/EEHealth as organ, eye and tissue donors and to honor those that have saved lives through the gift of donation.

Edward-Elmhurst's request is part of its participation with Gift of Hope in the national Hospital Organ Donation Campaign.

This initiative, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Health Resources and Services Administration, runs through April 30.

The program's goal is to help expand awareness about the benefits of organ and tissue donation and increase donor registration. Since the program's inception in 2011, the campaign has generated more than 552,000 donor registrations.

There are more than 112,000 people in the U.S. who are waiting for an organ transplant. While 95% of U.S. adults support organ donation, only 58% are registered as donors.

By becoming a registered organ and tissue donor, people could someday:

• Save up to 8 lives through organ donation;

• Restore sight in up to 2 people through eye donation;

• Heal more than 25 people through tissue donation.

Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network is a not-for-profit organization that coordinates organ and tissue donation and provides public education on donation in Illinois and northwest Indiana. To learn more, visit www.GiftofHope.org.