MVHS Plans Organ Donation Registration

UTICA – Every 10 minutes someone is added to the national transplant list. On average, 21 people die each day in the U.S. while waiting for a transplant. Being part of a national register saves lives.

April is Organ Donation Awareness Month. To support that, the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) is offering registration opportunities at two hospitals. Individuals may register for organ donation at the St. Elizabeth Medical Center cafeteria on Monday, April 13 from approximately 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and at the cafeteria on Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare’s St. Luke's campus on Tuesday, April 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This is important to local communities, as more than 10,000 New Yorkers are currently on the waiting list because need far exceeds the supply. A young stroke victim who was an organ donor at MVHS made a difference in 10 other lives in March when his family honored his wishes.

MVHS is committed to ensuring that families of each potential organ, tissue and eye donor are informed of their options to donate in a manner that encourages discretion and sensitivity with respect to circumstances, views and beliefs of the patient and the patient’s family. In addition, Holland Farms is supporting the Organ Donation Awareness program by selling half-moon cookies with blue and green icing (the program’s colors) each Tuesday and Thursday in April. Proceeds will benefit the Center for Donation and Transplant.

Individuals who are interested in organ, tissue and cornea donation may enroll in the New York State Donate Life Registry by visiting www.nyhealth.gov or through the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles.

For more information about the above events, contact Shaina Kaye, Hospital and Community Services specialist, Center for Donation and Transplant, at (518) 264-8740 or skaye@cdtny.org.

Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center are affiliates under the Mohawk Valley Health System.