April ceremony will highlight personal connections to organ donation

The Idaho Transportation Department and Intermountain Donor Services will hoist the Donate Life flag Wednesday, April 20, as part of National Donate Life Month in April. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. in the ITD Headquarters’ Auditorium at 3311 W. State St.

Besides attending the brown-bag event, transportation department employees are asked to share their personal experiences with the life-saving program.

ITD employees who have a personal connection to donation, either as a transplant recipient, or through a loved one that was a donor, are encouraged to participate in ceremony activities and share their stories as a way to honor these true gifts of life.

Those interested in sharing stories should contact Reggie Phipps at reggie.phipps@itd.idaho.gov by Tuesday, March 15. Let her know if you or a loved one received a transplant and what kind – heart, liver, etc. – or if a loved one was an organ, eye or tissue donor.

“We will be putting a slide show together and would like a picture of you and/or a loved one, if a recipient or a donor,” explained Phipps. “Please provide a brief description, one or two lines of the transplantation/donation experience you are submitting for. We will also need to have you sign and return the attached release form with your submission.”

For many years, the Idaho Transportation Department’s Driver Services Section has been a supporter of organ, eye and tissue donation. When individuals apply for or renew a driver’s license, each is asked whether or not they would like to be a donor and that decision is listed on their license and linked to the Yes Idaho Donor Registry. 

Currently, 64 percent of the Idaho population age 18 and above have signed up, ranking Idaho at number 14 in the country for the number of individuals who have said “Yes” to donation. 

“We are very proud of these figures as it shows the dedication and willingness of Idahoans to step up to save and enhance the lives of those around them,” Phipps said.

Published 02-12-16