We speak to share the facts and to break the myths. We speak for the heroes who have passed. We speak so others may have a 2nd chance at life. We speak to make a difference.

We speak because...

Today there are almost 100,000 men, women and children that currently need life-saving organ transplants.

An average of 18 people die each day from the lack of available organs for transplant. This means over 6,000 people die a year waiting for organ transplants.

Every 12 minutes another name is added to the national organ transplant waiting list.

Organ donation occurred in only .0025% of all deaths in the United States.

One individual who donates after death can provide organs, corneas, skin, bone and tissue for 50 or more people in need.

90% of Americans say they support donation, but only 30% know the essential steps to take to be a donor.

The largest number of children who need organ transplants are waiting for kidney donations.

African-Americans, who represent 27% of the national population, receive more than 40% of all kidney transplants. Because of specific medical conditions, including diabetes and high blood pressure, African-Americans suffer a disproportionately high rate of End Stage Renal Disease (kidney failure). There are currently more than 24,000 African Americans waiting for kidney or kidney-pancreas transplants nationwide.

Almost 44% of people waiting for organ transplants are between the ages of 18 and 49.

Survival rates for organ recipients continue to rise. The one year survival rate for kidney recipients is 95%, for heart recipients, 85%, for liver recipients, 77%, and for pancreas recipients, almost 77%. Between 1996 and 2001, one year survival rates for lung recipients increased by almost 34%.

There is no cost to be an organ and tissue donor. Donation is a gift.

For more information on organ and tissue donation visit www.myangelfoundation.org.

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