Four Things You Can Do To Increase Organ & Tissue Donation Awareness
Organ donation is an amazing opportunity. The concept of giving a part of yourself to someone to make them whole and healthy is absolutely awe-inspiring. Given that there are more than 120,000 people on the waiting list currently, with more than 4,300 of those in Illinois alone, the impact a single donor can make is immense. And the best thing a person can do is to spread awareness of the need for, and the ease of registering to be an organ and tissue donor.
Your donation means the world to a person in need, and most likely it will be someone in your immediate area, a person who can directly impact your community. As you can imagine, finding the right match for these donations is no simple task, but as we create more awareness, more organ & tissue recipients will have the chance of getting their lives saved or enhanced by donors.
There are a few things that anyone, registered donor or not, can do to raise awareness for the need for donors:
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Update Your Social Media Photos
One way to spread awareness about organ donation is to update your social media profile photos with themed banners. By visiting the Donate Life website, you can find links to banners, cover images, and profile pictures for social media accounts like Facebook and Twitter. This is a great way to show your support for organ and tissue donation. You can, of course, write posts, tag friends who have been affected by the donation process, and share blogs like this and other articles showing just how easy it is to save a life.
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Join the Registry
If you are not already on the registry, now is as an excellent time to sign up. You can always sign up at the DMV or online. It really is an easy process. The most amazing thing about being a donor is that just one donor can save up to eight lives. Joining the registry is one of the best ways to leave your mark on this world. Signing up only takes seconds and is an easy and painless process.
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Encourage Others to Join
As you spread awareness about organ donation, encourage your friends and family to sign up with you. Starting this conversation can be difficult, as it deals with sensitive issues, but by educating yourself, you can easily broach the topic with compassion. Even just wearing a Gift of Hope T-shirt or updating your social media pages are great ways to inspire others. You may also want to learn more about organ and tissue donation so you are in a position to answer any questions your friends or family may have.
If you want to learn more about getting involved, do not hesitate to contact us. Gift of Hope is an organ and tissue donor network that stretches across Illinois and northwest Indiana. We are here to provide donor family services, public education, and support services. Learn more about organ donation and get involved today.