Show Your Love This Valentine's Day Become an Organ Donor

Suzanna Morton, LOPA Community Educator & Public Relations Specialist and LOPA Volunteer and Heart Recipient Ryan Gallet, stopped by News15 at Noon and First at 4 to share the importance of becoming an organ donor.

With over 2,000 people in Louisiana waiting on life saving organ transplants and thousands more in need of healing treatments via donated tissue, LOPA invites you to SHARE THE LOVE this National Donor Day. 

WHAT: National Donor Day

WHEN: Wednesday February 14, 2024

WHY: Valentine’s Day is National Donor Day! Observed annually on February 14, National Donor Day aims to raise awareness for the life-saving benefits of organ and tissue donation. Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to honor those heroes who have given the gift of life through donation. It is also a perfect opportunity to share your decision to be an organ and tissue donor with your family, or, if you haven’t already, share the love by saying YES and committing to saving and healing lives as a registered organ and tissue donor. 

FACTS: 

In 2023, there were 898 Louisiana heroes who donated organs and tissues for transplant (173 organ donors, 109 organ + tissue donors, and 616 tissue donors). 

In addition to the 725 organs that were successfully transplanted, there were thousands of bone and tissue grafts that will be used in treating a variety of diseases and conditions. These include heart surgeries, orthopedic surgeries, burn treatment and wound care. 

On November 14th, LOPA achieved a new organizational record for the number of organs transplanted in a single day. Four donor heroes donated 18 organs, saving the lives of 14 people. This record-breaking day came on the heels of an all-time high 38 donors in the month of October.

Louisiana residents can register as an organ, tissue and eye donor at lopa.org