Local BMV gains praise

STEUBENVILLE - There are more than 101,000 Americans who are awaiting organ and tissue transplants, with approximately 3,000 in Ohio alone.

Those statistics were provided by Lauren Fitting, community outreach/partnership coordinator for Lifeline of Ohio, one of four independent nonprofit organ and tissue procurement organizations that make up Donate Life Ohio, an organization committed to spreading awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation.

The Bureaus of Motor Vehicles throughout Ohio, with the help of Donate Life Ohio, are doing what they can to raise the number of potential donors in the state by asking residents who renews their licenses if they would like to be an organ and tissue donors.

Jefferson County resident Carl Cook on Friday presented officials at the BMV in Steubenville with a book and certificate of appreciation for continuing their efforts in gaining organ and tissue donors.

Cook, who resides in Wintersville, was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease when he was 28. At 47, he began hemodialysis treatments and was placed on the national waiting list for a transplant, and six months later both of his kidneys were removed because of their enlarged size. He received his second chance at life on March 1, 2004, from a 20-month-old-child.

"A machine kept me alive for 30 months before that," Cook said. "Having the transplant improved my life. I'm no longer dependent on a machine. I'm able to live a more fulfilled life, and I was able to see my kids graduate."

Cook presented a scrapbook to Barbara Dahlem, deputy registrar of Jefferson County, chronicling the lives touched by organ and tissue donation.

"It probably seems mundane, asking for donors day after day, but we really do appreciate it," Carl said to Dahlem.

The book, compiled by Donate Life Ohio, is titled, "88 Stories of Compassion, Caring and Courage" and includes Cook's story. The presentation coincides with National Donate Life Month, which offers an opportunity to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation and the lives saved by donors.

"It really is a matter of life and death," Cook said.

Dahlem noted she knew Cook prior to his transplant through their children who went to school together. She added her employees at the BMV understand the importance of organ and tissue donation because they know people who have received transplants.

"My office manager's husband received a heart transplant five years ago," Dahlem said. "It makes us understand the urgency and the opportunity we have to assist in getting donors. My staff realizes how important it is to donate to Donate for Life."

Donate for Life Ohio works with counties throughout Ohio, and Fitting noted her appreciation for the effort the BMVs put forth.

"The need for donors is great," Fitting said. "Each day, 18 Americans die because there aren't enough donors. We knew, in Carl's case, he wouldn't be here had someone not said 'yes.' Donations allow people a second chance at life, and we greatly appreciate Barb's support and her staff for participating, as well as the other BMVs we work with. They are on the front lines of organ and tissue donations, and we appreciate their support."

For information, visit www.lifelineofohio.org.

(Sadler may be contacted at bsadler@heraldstaronline.com.)