Ohio's 15th Congressional District & Organ Donation
Honoring Donation in 2023
While the need for registered donors is great, we do want to pause to thank the heroic donors who saved and healed lives last year in Lifeline of Ohio's service area.
Ohio Boy in Need of a Heart
Shaun is a 1-year-old who is currently waiting for a heart transplant at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. He has been in-patient at the hospital since December 2023 and is on a Berlin pump until he can receive his transplant.
Despite his health challenges, Shaun is growing and even started walking recently! His story highlights the critical need for more organ donors.
The family has relocated to Columbus from Cleveland while he waits for his transplant.
Watch 10TV’s coverage of Shaun’s need for a heart.
Ohio Heart Recipient Advocates on Capitol Hill
Items of Note About Donation
15th District Donor Registration Rates
In the 15th District, donor registration rates are above the national average and above or near the state’s average:
- Athens County –62.1%
- Clinton County – 61.2%
- Fayette County – 59.2%
- Fairfield County – 64.4%
- Franklin County – 56.7%
- Hocking County – 61.5%
- Madison County – 67.9%
- Morgan County – 60.5%
- Perry County – 63.3%
- Pickaway County – 65.2%
- Ross County – 61.4%
- Vinton County – 55.5%
Fact Sheet, Stats and Service Area
- Ohio Organ Procurement Organizations
- The national transplant waiting list for a lifesaving organ transplant is rising at an alarming rate, with more than 100,000 individuals currently on the list.
- In Ohio, more than 2.500 people are waiting for an organ transplant, and hundreds more await tissue and corneal transplants.
- Approximately 20 times each day, an individual dies for lack of an available organ. Once every 48 hours, an Ohioan dies waiting. Thousands more are waiting for tissue and corneal transplants.
- In 2023, 46,632 organ transplants were performed in the United States. And more than 1.75 million tissue transplants were performed.
A New Way to Register Donors!
As of October 2022, Ohioans can now register to be an organ, eye and tissue donor when they renew their vehicle registration!
HB21 instructs the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to ask the donation registration questions with all new and renewed licenses or registrations. The bill also increases the amount license-seekers are asked to voluntarily donate to the Second Chance Trust Fund from $1 to $2. And it increases the annual contribution for the “Donate Life” license plate from $5 to $15.
How Does An Ohioan Register As A Donor?
Ohioans may declare their wish to become a donor by registering online through www.donatelifeohio.org. Additionally, individuals may declare their decision when at the BMV.
The Ohio Donor Registry is an individual’s first-person authorization to donate the gift of life at the time of their death, if possible, through organ, eye and tissue donation.
Donate Life Ohio encourages everyone to talk to their loved ones about their donation decision. When the next-of-kin knows their loved one’s decision at the time of death, it is one of the most helpful steps a grieving family can take to deal with its loss.
Who is Lifeline of Ohio?
Who is Lifeline of Ohio – Founded in 1984, Lifeline of Ohio is an independent, non-profit organization that promotes and coordinates the donation of human organs and tissue for transplantation. Lifeline of Ohio serves 97 hospitals and facilities in 38 counties in Ohio and two in West Virginia and is designated as an organ procurement organization through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Resources from the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine Encourages Ohioans to Register
Donor parents Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine share this very special message encouraging all Ohioans to register their decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor. Their daughter Becky was a tissue and cornea donor who healed many through her gifts of donation.