North Tonawanda, N.Y. (WBEN) - Friday marks the annual National Donate Life Blue & Green Day, a day where people don the Donate Life colors in solidarity to spread awareness on the importance of donating organs and tissues that could help save lives.
Niagara County Clerk Joseph Jastrzemski, alongside local, county and state government officials including New York State DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder, as well as Donate Life representatives, gathered this week at the North Tonawanda DMV to celebrate by making a call to action for Niagara County residents to consider "checking the box" at their local to DMV to become organ donors and sharing the stories of two county residents who had heart transplants.
"When I became county clerk, one of the things I didn't realize was the need for organ donors. I had no clue myself. So I made it a mission to become an organ donor the first year as county clerk," Jastrzemski said.
Jastremski notes that when he took office in 2015, the percentage of Niagara County resident who were voluntary organ donors was about 40%. Today, that number is 66.5%.
A percentage that rivals the state of Colorado, who currently holds the highest rate of organ donors by state, according to DMV Commissioner Schroeder.
"There are [over] 8000 New Yorkers who are on a waiting list," noted Commissioner Schroeder. "These are our friends. They're our brothers, our sisters, neighbors, clergy, and coaches, who are on the waiting list. What's even worse is that there are 1700 who have been on that waiting list for five years. It's unacceptable. That is why we as New Yorkers, as Western New Yorkers, we have a responsibility to do something about it."
Tim Synor and Paulette Welker of Niagara County both shared the stories of their heart transplant journeys. They went to the same hospital and both celebrated their 10th year since operation anniversaries last year. You can hear their full stories in the player above.
"I'm so thankful to be standing here," said Synor. "If you're not registered as an organ donor, please consider it one day. It may save someone's life. I am living proof."
"One organ donor can save up to eight lives," reminds Schroeder "And can potentially heal 75 more people through tissue donations."
Clerk Jastrzemski reminds the public they can sign up to become an organ donor at any one of the DMV's in the county (North Tonawanda, Lockport, Niagara Falls) or they can go online to the DMV website.