South Australian families who generously agreed to organ donation have been recognised at a moving ceremony as part of DonateLife Thank You Day.
Family and friends gathered at Bonython Park yesterday morning to plant a rose in the Garden of Life to remember the lives of organ donors and to acknowledge the generosity of their families who have helped transform the lives of others at a time of great tragedy.
Forty-nine South Australians donated their organs last year saving 116 lives while so far this year, 34 South Australians have donated their organs, providing a second chance at life for 78 people.
Last year, South Australia had the highest registration rate in the country at 73 per cent, compared to the national average of 36 per cent.
The state also had the third highest consent rates for organ donation in Australia, with 58 per cent, compared to the national average of 55 per cent.
DonateLife Thank You Day is a national day to reflect and say thanks to those generous Australians and their families who make donation possible.
There are currently around 1,800 Australians on the waitlist for an organ transplant and around 14,000 additional people on dialysis who may need a kidney transplant.
South Australia is the only state where people can register on the national Australian Organ Donor Registry with their driver's licence.
If you are aged 16 and over and would like to register, visit DonateLife website.
Quotes attributable to DonateLife SA State Medical Director, Dr Stewart Moodie
As a State, we continue to strongly support organ donation as part of quality end of life care with our health professionals working together to identify potential donors and support families through a time of grief.
This ceremony is a fantastic opportunity to acknowledge the selfless gift of donors, as well as recognising their families for the ultimate act of kindness.
We are extremely grateful to all donor families for honouring the donation decisions of their loved ones and encourage all South Australians to reflect on what it would mean to register as an organ donor and discuss their thoughts with their family.
