Posted on April 1, 2011
State Representative David Labriola (R-131) today honored organ and tissue donors and recipients during a ceremony marking National Donate For Life Month at the State Capitol.
Rep. Labriola spoke before a crowd of more than 100 people who converged in the North Lobby of the Capitol for the event which featured speakers, displays and heartfelt stories from families of organ donors and recipients. Oxford selectman David Yish, a heart transplant recipient who will celebrate the four-year anniversary of his transplant on Monday April, 4, 2011, was also in attendance.
“Unfortunately, organ and tissue donation are often only thought of during difficult life circumstances,” Rep. Labriola said. “Honoring National Donate Life month will bring awareness to this important issue and hopefully spur family conversations that could benefit others. Giving the gift of life so a stranger can live is an incredibly selfless and powerful act.”
According to Donate For Life Connecticut, more than 8,000 deceased donors provided more than 22,000 organ transplants. In addition, there were nearly 7,000 transplants from living donors. There are approximately 30,000 tissue donors and 40,000 cornea donors annually, providing more than 1 million tissue and cornea transplants.
More than 100,000 men, women and children currently await organ transplants.