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PRESS RELEASES
Newsroom | Events | Press Releases
2010
HEROES BREAK RECORD IN NEW MEXICO
Organ donor agency reports record breaking year for life-saving donations
ALBUQUERQUE, NM, January 21, 2010 – The generosity of New Mexicans resulted in a record year in the number of organ donors, a 21 percent increase from 2008. New Mexico Donor Services reports that 51 individuals were able to donate organs making it possible to coordinate 151 life-saving transplants, an increase of 30 percent. In addition, 182 New Mexicans were able to help others through tissue donation and 234 through eye donation allowing thousands to have life-improving cornea, bone, tendon, skin or heart valve transplants.
“New Mexico organ, tissue and eye donors are true heroes. We are grateful for the ‘Gift of Life’ they have given to hundreds of individuals, and commend their families for supporting this life-saving effort,” said Patricia Niles, Executive Director of New Mexico Donor Services. Sixty percent of New Mexicans who donated organs after death had registered to be donors on their driver’s license, ID card or on the new online donor registry www.NMdonor.org, while 40 percent had a family member make the donation decision at the time of death.
New Mexico Donor Services has steadily increased the number of organ and tissue donors since 2004 under the leadership of Executive Director, Patricia Niles. In 2009, New Mexico Donor Services more than doubled the number of organ donors from 2002/2003 by focusing on donation opportunities through education and collaborative efforts with healthcare partners statewide, including 40 hospitals, two transplant centers, the New Mexico Hospital Association and the Office of the Medical Investigator.
Currently, 105,000 people are on the national organ waiting list in need of a life-saving organ transplant, including 650 New Mexico residents. Eighteen people die each day waiting for a life-saving organ. Every New Mexican is asked to make a decision to save lives by registering as an organ and tissue donor when obtaining a driver’s license or ID card at the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) or online at www.NMdonor.org
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2009
650 NEW MEXICANS IN NEED OF LIFESAVING TRANSPLANTS
Organ Donor Registrations Urged at MVD in April “Donate Life” Month
Albuquerque, NM, March 19, 2009 – As 650 New Mexicans continue to wait for a life-saving organ transplant, the nation readies to observe National “Donate Life” Month in April. Hospitals throughout New Mexico will participate by flying a “Donate Life” flag to show support for over 101,000 Americans in need of transplants and commemorate the organ and tissue donors who gave the “Gift of Life”.
Donate Life Month celebrates the 27,958 successful organ transplants in the U.S. last year, a miracle that was made possible by 14,204 individuals who gave the “Gift of Life”; 6,215 made a living donations and 7,989 donated after death. In 2008, 182 New Mexicans received a life-saving organ transplant; 65 individuals donated in New Mexico, including 23 living donations and 42 donations after death.
“895,000 New Mexicans have registered to be organ donors. That’s 50 percent of licensed drivers and ID card holders, but the need is great, and we urge more New Mexicans to make a decision to save lives through organ and tissue donation” said Patricia Niles, executive director for New Mexico Donor Services. She additional states, “Myths and misinformation about donation discourage individuals from registering to be donors. We are committed to dispelling these myths and providing the correct information to increase organ and tissue donation.”
The top 5 donation FACTS are:
- Registering to be a donor will NOT interfere with any life-saving medical care.
- People of any age and with any medical condition can register to be donors at MVD.
- There is never a cost to the family or estate for organ or tissue donation.
- An open casket funeral or cremation is possible after donation.
- All major religions support donation as a generous life-saving act.
One donor can save the lives of eight people through organ donation, and up to fifty more can be helped through eye and tissue donation. As many as 18 patients die each day in the U.S. awaiting an organ transplant. To learn more about donation, visit www.DonateLifeNM.org or call 1-505-843-7672.
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New Mexico Donor Services is the federally designated organ procurement organizations serving the citizens of New Mexico. NMDS is a non-profit organization, working closely with the Motor Vehicle Division and Partner Hospitals throughout New Mexico to provide donation options to families.
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