– Event at State Capitol Raises Awareness among Legislators –

Charleston, W.Va., March 3, 2017 – At 5 months old Maren Foster was diagnosed with a rare liver disease called biliary atresia. She received a life-saving liver transplant three months later. Now 3, Maren loves playing in her play kitchen and her family enjoys her to the fullest.

Nearly 500 West Virginians are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant and thousands more are in need of healing tissue or cornea transplants. The need is still great for more West Virginians to register as organ, tissue and cornea donors.

During the West Virginia Hospital Association’s annual Hospital Day at the State Capitol, state legislators had the opportunity to learn how they can make a difference in thousands of lives through raising awareness about organ donation and encouraging constituents to register as organ donors. Donate Life West Virginia volunteers delivered informational packets to legislators highlighting the importance of donation during the event. They also answered questions throughout the day.

“State legislators are in a position to raise awareness about organ donation and reduce waiting times for recipients in need of life-saving transplants in the state of West Virginia,” said Susan Stuart, President and CEO, the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE). “We are thankful to our friends at the West Virginia Hospital Association for providing Donate Life West DLWV Hospital Day– Page 2 Virginia the opportunity to be part of this important event and share the life-affirming power of organ donation with state legislators.”

Nationally, more than 118,000 people are awaiting an organ transplant. At least 22 will die each day without receiving one. For every person who donates organs, tissue and corneas, as many as 75 lives can be saved or dramatically improved.

A generous donor family gave Maren Foster the gift of life. “One of my most cherished memories since the transplant is watching Maren achieve all her milestones and meeting her donor family,” said Travis Foster, Maren’s father, who attended the event. “She’s unstoppable from the time her feet hit the floor in the morning.”

Individuals can register as organ, tissue or cornea donors online at www.donatelifewv.org.

About Donate Life West Virginia
Donate Life West Virginia is comprised of four federally designated organ procurement organizations (OPOs) that are dedicated to promoting and coordinating the donation of organs and tissue for transplantation: CORE, Lifeline of Ohio, Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates and LifeNet Health.

State Reps. Charlotte Lane (left) and Moore Capito (center) present Susan Stuart, President and CEO, Center for Organ Recovery & Education, with a West Virginia House of Delegates Resolution encouraging West Virginians to “Make the Pledge for Life” by registering to become an organ, tissue and cornea donor.