April 2006 for Organ Donor Awareness

Before organ transplants, what hope did people have when they suffered from incurable organ diseases? In the case of kidney disease such as PKD they could do very little but prepare for the challenge of living on dialysis. The first case of an organ transplant was a living donor. In 1954 an identical twin donated a kidney to his brother. Now medicine has evolved but we need more Americans to consider the issue, take action and register as an organ donor.

Proclamation by the President:
I hereby proclaim April 2006 as National Donate Life Month. Last year, more than 28,000 organ transplants took place in the United States -- more than at any other time in history. Despite this progress, more than 90,000 of our fellow citizens remain on a waiting list for a donation, and many lives are lost each year while waiting for organ transplants. ... During National Donate Life Month, I urge more Americans to make the decision to donate the gift of life. Individuals can learn more about becoming an organ and tissue donor at www.organdonor.gov.