Guthrie Celebrates Donate Life Month

April 23, 2024
Guthrie Celebrates Donate Life Month

Nationally, more than 100,000 people are waiting for an organ transplant, including 7,000 people in Pennsylvania. At least 17 will die each day without receiving the transplant they so desperately need. Someone is added to the transplant waiting list every 10 minutes.

Guthrie is pleased to join the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) to raise awareness about organ, tissue and cornea donation, and to inspire everyone during Donate Life Month to register to be an organ donor.

"As a health system, we view our role in organ donation as a critical component of our mission to save lives and support families during their most challenging times," said Joseph Sawyer, President, Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital. "Our commitment to facilitating organ donations is a testament to our dedication to health care excellence and community service. The greater number of individuals we can motivate to become organ donors, the more profoundly we fulfill our mission as advocates for the well-being of our entire community."

Consider registering as a donor:

  • One organ and tissue donor can save up to 8 lives and help more than 75 people.
  • Anyone, regardless of age or medical history, can sign up to be a donor.
  • Approximately 11,000 people die annually who are considered medically suitable to donate organs, tissue and corneas, yet only a fraction do.
  • With more than 90,000 people across the nation awaiting a kidney, it is the organ in greatest demand, followed by liver, heart and lungs.
  • Because conditions such as diabetes and hypertension are often more prevalent in the multicultural community, these individuals make up more than 50 percent of those on the national organ transplant list.

If you would like to and haven’t yet signed up to be an organ donor, go to RegisterMe.org. For more information, visit core.org.

"During National Donate Life Month, we celebrate the power of organ, tissue, and cornea donation to save and heal lives. We recognize the successful collaborations between CORE and the hospitals in Pennsylvania,” said Susan Stuart, President & CEO of CORE. "But, above all, this month is a tribute to the selfless donors and their families whose generous decision to give the gift of life has brought hope and healing to those close to home and far away.”