Untitled Document

Life-saving transplant stories featured at Donate Life Feb. 8 event

Most people would say one person can’t change the world, but as the Donate Life event at ITD headquarters February 8 proved, organ donation can change the world, at least for that one person. It has a ripple effect, too. The impact of one selfless act can save a life or drastically improve it for multitudes, one family at a time.

One organ donor can save up to eight lives. That same donor can also save or improve the lives of up to 50 people by donating tissues and eyes.

In the 33-year history of organ donation via driver’s licenses — the service first appeared in 1984 — that has amounted to hundreds of thousands of lives touched.

In addition to breaking a 48-year-old record for cornea transplants, 2016 also produced an overall Idaho record of 169 transplants performed. The event February 8 celebrated those successes.

Along with the sincere thanks expressed by heart transplant recipient Rick Brittell and liver transplant recipient Jonathan Long, one of the speakers was Stacy McGrew (pictured above), the mom of a recent donor. She brought a picture of her son, Christian Page, to the podium with her, where she explained that his organs and tissues had already saved five lives through donations.

Customers at any county DMV site can select organ donation when completing a driver’s license or ID card transaction. Idahoans can also sign up on the organ donation website, yesidaho.org.