April is National Donate Life month

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. (KBSI) – April is National Donate Life Month.

This month we raise awareness for those who need organ transplants and those who saved lives as an organ donor.

According to CEO of Poplar Bluff Medical Center Clyde Wood more than one hundred thousand people nationally are waiting for an organ donation and in Missouri alone there are over two thousand people on a waiting list.

“When you think of those 2000 plus people that are awaiting a transplant sometimes they’ve gone through every phase of medical services and tasks and treatment and an organ is their last chance to sustain life. And so what we can do to create awareness and support around that just helps to honor those people, but I think it’s also important to just honor those that make that sacrifice because it’s very inspiring,” said Wood. 

Wood says by being an organ donor, you can save up to 8 lives. He says if your considering being a donor, you should discuss it with your family and think about it because it really is a selfless act.