National Donate Life presentation planned at HQ Friday


How to become a donor

ITD and the Division of Motor Vehicles facilitate the decisions of Idaho drivers who want to become organ donors through “Yes!” Idaho.”

Idahoans can indicate their desire to become organ donors when they receive their first driver’s license or renew their license. That decision is noted on the license for ease of reference in the event of a fatal crash.

More than 112,000 people nationwide are waiting for a life-saving transplant, including children and adults of varying ages who need a heart, kidney, liver or other organ to survive. Others need tissue and eye donations.

For information about becoming a donor through the “Yes!” Idaho program, contact The Idaho Donor Registry at (888) 937-4324 or e-mail info@yesidaho.org. Donors younger than 18 must have parental or guardian approval to become donors

Lacey Haye golfed, fished, skied, and attended college at Boise State University and the College of Southern Idaho. As an organ donor, she saved the lives of two people and restored sight to two others.

Lacey’s selfless decision to become an organ donor will be honored Friday (April 20) during a special presentation as part of National Donate Life month. The event will begin at 10 a.m. in ITD’s Darrell V Manning Auditorium.

Representatives of Intermountain Donor Services will present the Haye family with the floragraph of their daughter that adorned the Donate Life parade float in the Rose Parade Jan. 2 in Pasadena, Calif.

The floragraph – a unique portrait of Lacey – was created from flowers and other living plants. It was among 72 other floragraphs on the colorful parade float. Family members and friends gathered at ITD in December to put the finishing touches on the floragraph. Intermountain Donor Services also helped to defray travel costs of family members so they could be on hand for the pre-parade floragraph placement and the parade.

Members of the "Yes! Idaho Donate Life" Coalition also will be on hand to present the floragraph Friday.

Alex McDonald, director of public education and public relations for the organization, will offer his thanks to ITD’s Division of Motor Vehicles for participation in the program. ITD includes an option for drivers to register as organ donors when they apply for a new or renewed driver’s license. (See inset above right.)

McDonald also will emphasize the life-saving impact organ, eye and tissue donors can have on awaiting recipients.

Published 4-13-2012