Becoming an organ and tissue donor can significantly impact the lives of individuals across Illinois. As of November 2024, approximately 4,000 residents in Illinois are on the waiting list for organ transplants. By choosing to become a donor, you provide hope for those in need.
Organ and tissue donation involves surgically removing organs or tissues from a living or deceased donor for transplantation. Donors can provide vital organs such as the heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, pancreas, and intestines. Tissues like corneas, skin, bone, heart valves, and tendons can also be donated. A single donor has the potential to save up to eight lives and improve more than 75 others through tissue donation.
The gap between transplant needs and available donated organs is significant. Nationally, over 100,000 people are on the transplant waiting list; about 4,000 reside in Illinois. Each day in the U.S., 17 people die while waiting for an organ transplant. This highlights the critical need for more registered donors.
In Illinois, registering as an organ and tissue donor is straightforward with several options available. You can register online at LifeGoesOn.com through the Illinois Secretary of State’s official Organ/Tissue Donor Registry. Alternatively, registration is possible when applying for or renewing your driver’s license or state ID at any Secretary of State facility in Illinois. Your donor status will then be noted on your license or ID card. Additionally, registration can be done over the phone by calling 1-800-210-2106 or by mailing a completed registration form obtained from the Secretary of State’s office.
Registering as a donor provides “first-person consent,” meaning your decision is legally binding without requiring family authorization. Individuals aged 16 and older are eligible to register; however, those under 18 will need parental consent at donation time. Health conditions often do not disqualify potential donors since medical professionals assess suitability at donation time.
Choosing to become an organ and tissue donor offers hope to thousands awaiting transplants and contributes significantly to life-saving efforts.
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