Record number of organs transplanted and lives saved
COLUMBUS, Ohio – According to Lifeline of Ohio, several records involving organ, eye and tissue donation were broken in 2018 and that also included numbers set in Meigs County.
Lifeline of Ohio experienced a five percent increase in organ, eye and tissue donors in 2018. Along with the percentage increase, “four donation records were set by selfless, heroic donors,” according to a statement from Lifeline of Ohio. This is the second record breaking year in a row for Lifeline of Ohio.
Records broken in Central and Southeastern Ohio in 2018:
- 130 individuals shared the Gift of Life through organ donation – a five percent increase over the last year.
- 410 organs were transplanted from donors, which resulted in 366 lives saved through organ donation. This is an increase over the previous year.
- 594 individuals shared the gift of healing through tissue donation – a 25 percent increase over the last year.
- 249 individuals shared the gift of sight through cornea donation – a 47 percent increase over the last year.
- 55.2 percent of Meigs County citizens are registered organ, eye and tissue donors.
- 59.2 percent of Ohioans are registered organ, eye and tissue donors.
Lifeline of Ohio service area includes 37 counties in Ohio and two in West Virginia. According to a statement from Lifeline of Ohio, “Thanks to the generosity of the people within the communities Lifeline of Ohio serves, more people received gifts through organ, eye and tissue donation than any other year! Lifeline of Ohio worked closely with transplant centers and donor families, to ensure every opportunity for donation in 2018 was maximized to save the greatest number of lives.”
Lifeine of Ohio is an independent, non-profit organization, Lifeline of Ohio promotes and coordinates the donation of human organs and tissue for transplantation. Lifeline of Ohio serves 72 hospitals in 37 counties in Ohio and two in West Virginia and is designated as an organ procurement organization through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.