For a sixth-straight year, the Commonwealth can boast a record in saving lives, and expansion of the organ donor registry.
Officials with Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates announced on Monday that in 2023, 299 organ donors became 729 transplants — the most in KODA history.
Thousands more were impacted through tissue donation, and these numbers mark a notable 25% increase in organ donation and a 20% increase in organs transplanted from 2022. And with 693, it’s the most number of lives saved in any given year.
Julie Bergin, president & CEO of KODA, said their organization remains “consistently amazed” by selfless choices made when people opt for donation. She called it the “most generous act” a person can make, and without donors and donor families, nearly 700 Kentuckians would have otherwise died last year.
Specifically in 2023, KODA saw its highest number of donations and transplants for hearts, kidneys, livers and lungs.
— Heart donation and transplantation increased by more than 10%.
— Kidney donation and transplantation rose by more than 29%.
— Liver donation and transplantation increased by nearly 18%.
— And lung donation and transplantation was up more than 14%.
More than 600 tissue donors assisted nearly 50,000 patients needing a transplantable graft for medical procedures, such as heart valve replacements, skin grafts and orthopedic surgeries.
KODA has partnerships with the Eye Bank of Kentucky, funeral homes, county coroners, medical examiners, the Nationwide Organ Recovery Transport Alliance and UPS.
In fact, the Eye Bank of Kentucky reported more than 870 cornea donors helped give the gift of sight last year.
Those interested in becoming donors can register online at RegisterMe.org. For more information about organ, tissue, and cornea donation, please visit donatelifeky.org.
