DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — The Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network announced it once again surpassed a major milestone, marking its third consecutive year of record-breaking organ donations in Illinois and northwest Indiana.
In 2024, 526 organ donors made 1,495 life-saving transplants possible. Additionally, 1,936 tissue donors provided vital donations of bone, skin, and other tissues, helping to heal and save countless lives.
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The organization credits its collaborative work with donors, families, hospitals, coroners, funeral directors, and others in the donation process for these achievements.
“I am grateful to all those who made the decision to be organ and tissue donors and the families we worked with in 2024. I honor each and every one of them for saying ‘yes’ to donation to save the lives of others,” said Harry Wilkins, MD, Gift of Hope President/CEO. “It is through the compassion and generosity of others that we are able to offer hope to the more than 100,000 people waiting on the national transplant waitlist for a second chance at life.”
A key initiative for the organization last year was the launch of the Gift of Hope Organ Donor Care Center at RUSH, Illinois’ first dedicated medical and surgical unit for recovering life-saving organs from deceased donors.
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Despite the record-breaking numbers, the need for organ donors remains urgent. More than 100,000 people in the U.S., including over 5,000 in Illinois and Indiana, are waiting for life-saving transplants. One donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation, enhance more than 75 lives through tissue donation, and restore sight for up to two people.
Gift of Hope encourages everyone to learn more about organ donation and register as donors. To sign up, click here.
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