![]() We are encouraging local community members to step up and help us address this issue and save lives.” Donate Life KY’s “Be The One” campaign focuses on helping Black communities move past the potential hesitancies associated with becoming a registered donor and being “the one” who could help give the gift of life. ![]() While the donor registry is confidential, extensive research shows that organ transplants have a higher rate of success among populations of similar ethnicities. “Currently, there are 1,000 children and adults in Kentucky waiting for a lifesaving transplant. “The data speaks for itself as we take into account the urgency of this effort,” said Allen Gazaway, Multicultural Community Educator for Donate Life KY. KODA says it is crucial to help these communities understand that registering to be an organ donor can help with this shortage and save more lives. In 2020, those within the Black community accounted for 28% of the U.S. We’re encouraging everyone to ‘Be The One’ to help us save lives.”Ĭurrently, there are over 100,000 people across the country awaiting a lifesaving transplant, with someone new added to the national waiting list every 10 minutes. “Through education, we want everyone to know about the miracle of organ donation and how easy it is to register to be an organ donor. We know we need to do a better job reaching them, and that is why we’ve launched this campaign,” said Shelley Snyder, Executive Director, Kentucky Circuit Clerks’ Trust for Life. “Although these communities are generous and charitable, statistically, they are less likely to register to be an organ donor. Currently, populations from diverse backgrounds make up 60% of the national transplant waiting list however, these are the cultural groups that statistically are less likely to register to be an organ donor. "On the flip side you're telling someone guess what, you're able to get that life-changing transplant that you've been waiting for to restore your quality of life, to be able to participate in everything meaningful.Donate Life KY has launched a new awareness campaign, “Be The One,” which will help raise awareness around organ donation and transplantation within Black communities throughout the state. "That's a very traumatic event with the families they're able to take some meaning from it," Northcraft said. He said that as a nurse he's seen every aspect of organ donation, from the families who are losing the loved ones who are donating the organs, to those receiving them. "Baptist Health Floyd facilitated 16 organs transplanted and 13 tissue donors in 2022, with 10 organs transplanted and six tissue donors so far in 2023," Northcraft said. Last year there were 239 deceased organ donors, more than 530 tissue donors and more than 700 cornea donors in the area. The region covered by KODA includes parts of Indiana, West Virginia and Kentucky.Ībout 1,000 people are waiting for organ donations in the region, Northcraft said. More than 600 organs were transplanted in the region in 2022. Nationally, about 100,000 people are awaiting transplants for organs like livers, lungs, hearts and kidneys. "Annually we have a donate life memorial where we raise the flag and pause for a minute of silence to recognize the contributions of families who've donated the gift of life, whether it's organ, tissue, cornea, with the passing of their loved one," Northcraft said. Typically the hospital holds its ceremony and raises the symbolic Donate Life flag in April, which is the official time period for National Donate Life Month, but it was delayed due to April's mass shooting in Louisville. ![]() The minute of silence also honors people who are waiting for life-saving organ donations nationwide. ![]()
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