Donate Life Florida proudly announced its first-ever statewide organ donor registration initiative on Monday as more than 5,000 Floridians await hopeful life-saving transplants.
The announcement comes during April's National Donate Life Month. Donate Life Florida's initiative seeks to increase the number of Floridians who become registered donors of organs, tissues, and eyes.
“Life is such a precious gift, and organ, tissue, and eye donation are such a selfless way to share that gift to extend and enhance the lives of others,” Donate Life Chairwoman Patricia Darrigan said in a press release. “Too many Floridians are dying while waiting for a transplant. Signing up takes just a moment – but that one moment can change so many lives and extend the legacy of every donor.”
Donate Life Florida is a non-profit organization certified by the state to manage the Joshua
Abbott Organ and Tissue Donor Registry - Florida's official organ, tissue, and eye donor registry.
According to its release, the campaign aims to reach a diverse statewide audience - including historically under-registered groups – to save more lives through organ, tissue, and eye donation.
Shockingly, Donate Life Florida noted that fewer than two in five Florida drivers agree to join the state's donor registry when they receive or renew a driver’s license. The "YES" registry donations are even lower in heavily populated southeast and southwest Florida and under 50% in almost half of the state's counties.
You would notice if you're an organ donor or not based on the heart-"DONOR" symbol on the front of your driver's license.
Why is this so important?
On average, one organ donor can save up to eight lives. Furthermore, Donate Life Florida said one tissue donation can save more than 75 people, and corneal transplants from eye donors can save countless others.
“Florida simply doesn’t have enough registered organ donors to keep up with the need,” Darrigan said.“We’re not just talking about numbers – we are talking about sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, neighbors, friends, and colleagues whose lives hang in the balance."
Organ transplants also come from all walks of life. Former State Senate President Kathleen Passidomo's husband, John, was an organ donor after he tragically died from a hiking accident last April.
“John was so meaningful to everyone who knew him. He was the love of my life. He was a guiding light for our girls. He was a transformational leader for our community. And in the end, his tragedy gave life to others,” Passidomo said.
Another woman, Kris Vanni, received her liver after from Aimee Sachs, who tragically died from a stroke in May 2023.
“I literally would not be here today if not for the generous organ donation of a young woman whose life ended far too soon,” Vanni said.“If not for Aimee’s incredible gift, my husband would be raising our sons by himself, and I would not be able to watch them grow. That’s the difference organ donation can make – giving life to others and saving families, too."
Ron Sachs, Aimee's father, said his daughter's kindness was the "bravest thing his family had ever witnessed."
“The greatest gift any of us can give is to make that personal commitment to be a donor, and the best way to enhance your own life’s legacy is to donate life to others," Sachs said. “We hope Aimee’s inspiring story, and those of so many other donors and recipients, will widen the universe of people who choose to leave a gift of life.”
Tyrone Brisby received his gift from 14-year-old Kyle Rodger from Tennessee.
“My life today is full of things I once feared I’d never experience again: time with my family, laughter with friends, simple moments that now feel extraordinary. All of that is possible because one person said yes,” Brisby said.
For more information, go to Donate Life Florida.
