Oklahoma has already registered more than 1.46 million of its citizens as organ, eye and tissue donors. Oklahoma has 62% of its licensed drivers registered, a figure that can be boasted by only a handful of states.
LifeShare of Oklahoma, the non-profit organization that recovers organs and tissue for transplantation, hopes to increase that percentage to 70% by the end of 2008.
“Oklahomans have really stepped up to the plate to help their fellow citizens on the transplant waiting list,” says Phil Van Stavern, director of communications for
LifeShare. “With a total population of 3.5 million, having nearly 41% of the entire state population registered as organ, eye and tissue donors is a remarkable achievement, and a testimony to the generosity of our citizens.”
There are currently more than 590 Oklahomans on the organ transplant waiting list. There were 68 deceased organ donors in 2006, and 189 Oklahomans received transplants. Sadly, 48 Oklahomans died waiting, as did more than 6,000 others across the country.
There are three ways to register to be a donor:
1. ON YOUR LICENSE OR STATE ID CARD - When you get your driver’s license or state ID card, you will have an opportunity to say yes to organ, eye and tissue donation, and your local tag agent is required to give you an opportunity to donate a dollar to the Oklahoma Donor Education Fund. All of the contributions are used to educate Oklahomans about the need for organ, eye and tissue donors. Since Oklahomans renew their driver’s licenses every four year, it’s important that each time you renew, or replace you license that you indicate that you would like to be a donor.
2. ONLINE – You can go online anytime and register in just minutes at www.lifeshareregistry.org. After you complete your registration, you will be sent a signature card. When you sign it and return it, your name will officially be added to the registry. Registering online gives you the ability to access your registry page and change the information on it.
3. ON THE PHONE – If you don’t have a computer, or access to the Internet, you can call 800-826-LIFE (5433) and request that a donor registration card be sent to you. After you fill out the card and return it, your name and donation wishes will be added to the LifeShare Donor Registry.
