Organ Donation: Turning Loss Into Life

Some gifts are so powerful, they ripple across generations. Organ donation is one of them. It is love choosing to live on when everything hurts most.

For families facing the worst day of their lives, saying yes to donation is never easy. For the person waiting for that phone call, the one that says a match has been found, it is everything. More than 103,000 people in the United States are currently waiting for a lifesaving transplant, and about every 8 minutes another name is added to the list. Each day, roughly 13 people die still waiting. 

Why it is so hard to qualify

Only a small share of deaths happen in the exact conditions where donation is possible, often in a hospital with specific clinical criteria. That is why every registered donor matters so much, and why talking with your family about your wishes is essential. 

Living donors and love in action

Donation is not only something that happens after death. Last year, 7,030 people became living donors in the United States, most often giving a kidney or a portion of their liver. Many living donors are ages 35 to 49, and more donors in their 50s and 60s are stepping forward. 

You can live a full, healthy life with one kidney. Living kidney donation is a proven option for many people and can shorten a recipient’s wait time and improve outcomes.

Who receives these gifts

Recipients span every age and background. Adults ages 50 to 64 make up the largest group, followed by people 65 and older, then adults 35 to 49. Many are living with heart failure, kidney disease, or liver disease, and many are children still waiting for their chance to grow up. 

One person, many lives

One donor can save up to 8 lives through organ donation and can help 75 or more people through tissue donation like corneas, skin, bone, and heart valves. Cornea donation can restore sight, and skin donation can help burn survivors heal. 

The beauty inside the loss

Donation does not erase grief. It transforms it. When a family chooses donation, an ending becomes a beginning for someone else. A goodbye becomes someone else’s hello. It is one of the kindest choices a person can make in a time of great loss.

Wear green, start a conversation

Our green ribbon pin and awareness wristbands are designed to spark gentle, important conversations. They honor donors and recipients, help raise funds, and keep the topic visible in daily life. Wear them to school events, community fundraisers, support groups, and remembrance days. A small symbol can open a big door.

How to register in seconds

•  Use the national portal at RegisterMe.org to sign up in your state.
•  You can also register when you get or renew your driver’s license. 
• Tell your family about your decision so your wishes are known and respected.

Living donation, simple facts

• Kidney: most common living donation, and most people can live a full life with one kidney.  
• Liver segment: the liver can regrow, so a healthy person may be able to donate a portion. 
  
• Bone marrow: can help treat blood cancers and other serious diseases; many donors return to normal activity quickly. (Consult a certified center for eligibility.)

Less talked about, just as life changing

We often hear about hearts and kidneys. We talk less about eyes and skin. Eye donation restores sight. Skin donation helps burn survivors and surgical patients heal. Bone and connective tissue donations help rebuild strength after injury or illness. These gifts change daily life in quiet and profound ways.

Say yes to life

If you have ever wondered whether you could make a difference, this is your sign. Register, wear your green ribbon, and talk about your decision. Your choice could be the reason someone gets more time, more birthdays, more ordinary mornings that turn into extraordinary years.

Register to be an organ donor

Frequently asked questions