Religion has role in organ donation

The weekend of Nov. 13-15 is National Donor Sabbath, a time when those of us in the organ and tissue donation field seek to educate faith communities about the need for organ, eye and tissue donation. National Donor Sabbath is observed with the hope that faith will fill congregants with the compassion to register their decisions to become organ and tissue donors.

Many faith leaders participate in services and programs to educate their congregations about donation and transplantation and the critical need for donors.

Currently, there are more than 100,000 people on the national transplant waiting list-more than 4,700 of these individuals are from Illinois. These people need an organ to survive.

Thousands more are in need of tissue transplants such as corneas, bone, skin, and heart valves.

Some people feel they are too old to become donors or their medical history would rule them out as a candidate for donation. Others believe their medical care may be compromised if a doctor knows they are interested in donation. These are common misconceptions about organ and tissue donation, and because of them, many people do not make a decision or document their wishes to be a lifesaving donor.

The public can be a part of this special bond of hope by joining Illinois' donor registry managed by Illinois Secretary of State Secretary White's office at LifeGoesOn.com.

We would also encourage religious leaders to take advantage of the materials provided by Donate Life Illinois such as brochures, bookmarks, buttons, registration cards and sermon suggestions and scripture verses. Material requests and further details may be obtained by e-mailing info@giftofhope.org.

Victoria Tulcus

National Donor Sabbath Committee

Donate Life Illinois

Chicago