Louis Aiello Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer | Mohawk Valley Health System
Louis Aiello Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer | Mohawk Valley Health System
The Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) is collaborating with the Center for Donation and Transplant (CDT) to observe National Donate Life Month. Throughout April, a series of events are planned to highlight the benefits of organ and tissue donation and inspire New Yorkers to join the New York State Donate Life Donor Registry.
Activities include displaying the Donate Life Flag at the Wynn Hospital, running informational tables, hosting spirit week events, and organizing a walk for MVHS staff. Additionally, MVHS will host an event where employees and volunteers can help make blankets for organ donor families.
Since 2023, MVHS and CDT have collaborated to assist families in honoring registered donors' wishes and support those deciding to donate. CDT has discussed donation with 67 families at MVHS, with nearly half choosing to donate. As a result, life-saving donations at MVHS have included hearts, lungs, livers, kidneys, pancreas, heart valves, tendons, long bones, and corneas.
In the United States, over 100,000 individuals are awaiting organ transplants. Thirteen people die daily waiting for a donor, and every eight minutes, someone new is added to the list. Waiting times for a transplant can extend up to five years.
“We continue to work in the community to spread awareness of the need for this life-saving gift,” said Susan McKinstry, BSN, RN, CCRN, Intensive Care clinician and CDT liaison. “When I talk to families about organ donation, I use the analogy of a storm passing. After a terrible storm, the presence of a rainbow can provide optimism and motivate us to endure through the dark times. Organ donation is the rainbow, which is an act of kindness that can save multiple lives and be the reason someone gets another chance to live.”
CDT, a nonprofit organ procurement organization, facilitates organ and tissue donation at 44 hospitals in 30 counties in Upstate New York and Western Vermont. Apart from facilitating donations, CDT collaborates with partner hospitals to educate communities about donation and the registry, and share stories of those who have agreed to donate.
For more information on becoming a donor or involvement opportunities, visit www.cdtnyvt.org.
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