Organ donor awareness goal of Buddy Day

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April is Donor Awareness Month in Michigan and Alice LaBonte, five-time cornea
recipient, is doing her best to help get the word out on the importance of organ
and tissue donation.
“Real people benefit from these donations. You’re not just giving
the gift of sight, or even the gift of life. You’re giving the gift of
hope,” LaBonte said.
LaBonte and other recipients of transplants participated in Buddy Day April
9, at the Mount Pleasant Secretary of State Office.
Buddy Day promoted awareness of the need for organ and tissue donors.
Volunteers distributed literature, litter bags, pencils and wildflower seeds.
In addition, a video containing personal stories of transplant recipients played
continuously.
Buddy Day was organized by people from Gift of Life and the Michigan Eye Bank
in Ann Arbor.
The event encouraged people to sign the back of their driver’s licenses,
which grants consent for the donation of their tissues and organs after death.
The volunteers also encouraged people to discuss donation options with their
families, who are responsible for making the final decision after death.
LaBonte said she wanted people to know many others are waiting for donations
and die while doing so.
In Michigan, 1,724 people are waiting for kidneys, 410 are waiting for livers,
138 people are waiting for pancreases, 118 people are waiting for lungs and
73 for hearts. This year in Michigan, 60 people have received a transplant and
34 people have died waiting, LaBonte said.
LaBonte said she believes the volunteers distributed information to hundreds
during Buddy Day. People waiting in the Secretary of State’s office signed
donor cards and received information on organ donation.
“It was a small step to promote awareness, but it was an important step.
However, a lot of people are still not aware of the need and that’s why
the whole month is devoted to promoting awareness,” LaBonte said.