NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa- A record number of Iowa organ donors last year, resulted in nearly 250 organ transplants. The Iowa Donor Network reports 74 deceased donors gave the gift of life, the most ever in Iowa's history.
"Iowans continue to show compassion by registering as donors and saying, 'yes', to donation when the opportunity arises," says CEO Suzanne Conrad. "We are so thankful for the generosity of the donors and their families and the incredibly dedicated healthcare providers that help carry out these wishes."
There are currently 1.8 million Iowans on the Iowa Donor Registry. Spokesman Tony Hakes says the state ranks about 9th in the nation in terms of organ donation registration, with about 73 percent of adults in Iowa registered. Roughly 95-percent of registrations occur when Iowans get their Iowa driver's license. Nationally, 54% of adults are registered donors.
Hakes says there are typically around 700 people in Iowa waiting for an organ transplant at any give time. He says currently the number is just under 600. (Illinois typically has 5,000 to 6,000 at any given time).
Most patients are waiting for a kidney transplant, some can spend years on the wait list.
(Below: Mary Beth Murray of Davenport donated a kidney to her brother-in-law, Eric Burge of Dvaenport. They rode on the Donate Life float in this year's Rose Parade in Pasadena, California.
(Photo from KWQC)