Organ and Tissue Donation Offers a Second Chance at Life

Organ donors like 16-year-old Jesse, offer a second chance for people who need transplants to continue living healthy lives.

Each year, Donate Life America, an organization that serves as a national voice for organ, eye and tissue donation, designates April as National Donate Life Month to increase awareness of organ donation in America.

Jesse, the youngest of eight children, died suddenly in July 2010 after suffering a life-long battle with heart disease. Although his family was devastated to lose a strong, vibrant part of their lives, they were touched to know that Jesse’s corneas could help someone see again.

“It brings us joy — the gift that was given through Jesse’s loss,” his family said in a letter to the recipient of Jesse’s corneas. “It gives added meaning to Jesse’s life.”

Jesse’s corneas were donated to a person in need through the Great Plains Lion’s Lubbock Eye Bank , housed in Texas Tech Physicians — Ophthalmology.

More than 17,000 people become blind each day in the U.S. Cornea transplants can help many of these patients. The Great Plains Lion’s Lubbock Eye Bank serves a large portion of the South Plains and placed 141 corneas for transplant last year.

For more information on how you can become an organ, eye or tissue donor, visit www.donatelife.net. Email Gregory Oliver for more information abut the Great Plains Lion’s Lubbock Eye Bank.

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