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Mountain Home News

Idaho awarded Silver Medal for donor registry effort

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Idaho was recently honored as one of only seven states in the nation to receive a silver medal for the superior performance of its donor registry.

Alex McDonald, public relations director for Intermountain Donor Services, presented the medal to the Idaho Transportation Department's Driver Services Section to show appreciation for their professionalism and support.

"The success of the donor registry has a direct correlation to lives saved. We could not have the success we have here in Idaho without support from the dedicated employees at the Driver Services Section," stated Tracy Schmidt, executive director for Intermountain Donor Services.

The silver medal was awarded to states with superior performance in four of five major measurements of their state registry. Idaho's medal will be presented to Ed Pemble, ITD driver services manager.

"Idaho has an outstanding record for the high percentage of citizens who have become volunteer organ donors. It is an honor for me today to be able to recognize the Driver Services Section for their important contribution to this effort," McDonald said.

"Becoming an organ donor is one of the most selfless gifts one can give," said Alan Frew, ITD Division of Motor Vehicles administrator. "It is not surprising Idahoans help lead the way in making this compassionate donation."

Diana Haye, a donor mother, will also tell about how important it can be to make that decision when receiving your driver license. She and her daughter Lacey discussed organ donation when Lacey got her first driver license. When Lacy renewed her driver license at age 18, she again registered her wishes to be an organ donor. When she passed away as a result of a tragic accident, the decision regarding organ donation was already made, relieving her family from the responsibility of making that important decision.

The citizens of Idaho are also to be congratulated for their generous nature, but there is still work to be done, McDonald explained. Currently there are approximately 400 people in Idaho waiting for a live saving transplant.

The learn more about organ, eye, and tissue donation or to register online, go to www.yesidaho.org.

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  • Your story about Organ Donation highlighted the tragic shortage of human organs for transplant operations.

    There are now over 110,000 people on the National Transplant Waiting List, with over 50% of these people dying before they get a transplant. Most of these deaths are needless. Americans bury or cremate 20,000 transplantable organs every year.

    There is a simple way to put a big dent in the organ shortage -- give donated organs first to people who have agreed to donate their own organs when they die.

    Giving organs first to organ donors will convince more people to register as organ donors. It will also make the organ allocation system fairer. Everyone who is willing to receive should be willing to give.

    Anyone who wants to donate their organs to others who have agreed to donate theirs can join LifeSharers. LifeSharers is a non-profit network of organ donors who agree to offer their organs first to other organ donors when they die. Membership is free at www.lifesharers.org or by calling

    1-888-ORGAN88. There is no age limit, parents can enroll their minor children, and no one is excluded due to any pre-existing medical condition. LifeSharers has over 14,400 members as of this writing, including 57 members in Idaho.

    Please contact me - Dave Undis, Executive Director of LifeSharers - if your readers would like to learn more about our innovative approach to increasing the number of organ donors. I can arrange interviews with some of our local members if you're interested. My email address is daveundis@lifesharers.org. My phone number is 615-351-8622.

    -- Posted by LIFESHARERS on Fri, Jan 21, 2011, at 10:12 AM
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