Illinois
COMMENTARY

With organ donation life goes on

I am delighted to address the readers of Illinois Country Living about a subject near and dear to my heart — organ and tissue donation.

This subject is extremely important to me because my own sister, Doris Ivy, received the gift of life in 1991. But there is more to my story.

Sec. of State Jesse White

Long before we knew my sister would be the recipient of a kidney donation, my family actually rejected the opportunity to donate a family member's organs. When my brother died unexpectedly, my family was asked if we would like to donate his organs and tissues. We said "no." When we later found out that my sister was going to need a kidney transplant, I learned that we could have saved lives after my brother's death had we been aware of the organ donor program. Doris had to wait three and a half years for her transplant. Fortunately she received it in time and today leads a very active life. We are so grateful to the family that gave so generously.

Sadly, many people are not as fortunate as Doris. In Illinois, there are currently more than 5,000 people on the waiting list for an organ/tissue transplant and 450 people die each year because a donor is not found. The waiting list grows each year and people who could be saved continue to die. It is my hope that we can change that — but I need the help of every Illinois citizen.

In Illinois, we have an organ donor registry associated with the Secretary of State driver's license database. Only 18 states have organ donor registries. Illinois' registry is by far the largest, with more than 5 million potential donors. When an appropriate donor is identified (a person who has been declared "brain dead" but still has organ activity), a member of the state procurement agency calls the Secretary of State's Organ/Tissue Donor Hotline, and the donor's family is informed about whether the person is registered as a potential donor. Unfortunately, only a few thousand people in Illinois meet that criteria each year, and some of those are not eligible donors because of organ damage or other factors. Those who were able to be donors saved about 1,000 lives last year.

About 45 percent of people who visit a Secretary of State Driver Services facility indicate that they wish to be a potential donor. If the other 55 percent said "yes" to organ donation, more than twice as many lives would be saved.

I have had the honor of getting to know a donor family from Lincoln. Rick and Stacy Bacon lost their daughter, Brianne, to a brain tumor when she was only 10 years old. When approached about organ donation, the Bacon family felt that if Brianne's tragedy could prevent another family from going through the grief they were experiencing, they should do it. As a result, Brianne was able to save four lives. Knowing that Brianne's death was not in vain helps the Bacons through the rough days. The Bacon family and the recipients of Brianne's organs truly know how precious the "Gift of Life" can be.

I'd like to close by clarifying a misunderstanding that there is a cost associated with organ donation. The truth is, if a family chooses to donate a loved one's organs or tissues there is absolutely no charge involved, nor do they receive any compensation.

Even if you are not listed in the Organ Donor Registry, you can still be a donor. The fact is that the final decision about organ donation rests with your family. Therefore, I urge you to not only sign the back of your driver's license and join the organ donor registry but, most importantly, discuss your wishes with your family. Their decision could mean that "Life Goes On" for someone else.

For more information about organ/tissue donation, please call the toll-free Organ Donor Hotline at 1-800-210-2106, or visit the Secretary of State Web site at www.cyberdriveillinois.com. You may also write to my office: Secretary of State, Organ/Tissue Donor Program, 2701 S. Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, Illinois 62702.

Jesse White is Illinois' 37th Secretary of State. He was elected to the post in November, 1998. Prior to his election as Secretary of State, White served as Cook County Recorder of Deeds from 1992 to 1996. He also spent 16 years in the Illinois General Assembly. Secretary of State White served in the United States 101M Airborne Division and founded the internationally known Jesse White Tumblers - a positive reinforcement program for children.

The opinions and views of guest commentators are their own and may not represent those of the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives or the electric co-ops of Illinois.

4 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2001