April is National Donate Life Month, a time for our nation to honor the tremendous generosity of organ, eye, tissue, marrow and cord blood donors who make the selfless decision to give the gift of life to their fellow Americans.

It is also an opportunity to honor the families and friends of donors who support their choice as well as our hardworking and dedicated health care professionals who serve the transplantation community.

Medical advancements in the field of transplantation have saved hundreds of thousands of lives. Yet, right now, more than 250 men, women, and children of all ages and ethnicities in Maine are on the national transplant waiting list. Across the nation, 20 people die every day waiting for organs.

As part of National Donate Life Month, the Health Resources and Services Administration (www.HRSA.gov) is celebrating the life-saving potential inside each and every one of us. HRSA invites you to learn about the amazing power of organ donation and let the good in you live on as organ, eye, and tissue donors. To learn more and sign up visit www.organdonor.gov or www.donaciondeorganos.gov. We also invite you to “Like” Organdonor.gov and Donaciondeorganos.gov on Facebook.

And, if you are wondering whether transplantation really saves lives, just consider that in 2018 alone, more than 110 people in Maine received the gift of life thanks to the people who said “yes” to donation.

Thank you for the gift of life and for letting the good in you live on.

Jeffrey Beard

regional administrator
Region 1 – Boston
Health Resources and Services Administration