April is National Donate Life Month, and that offers a reminder that it’s important to consider registering as an organ donor.

It’s likely you know someone who has received a transplant, whether it was a heart, a liver, a kidney or a cornea. And while those operations can be life-saving, the sad reality is that 104,055 people in the United States are waiting on transplants. Of those, 58,977 are active waiting-list candidates, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing.

Included on those lists are more than 10,000 in our region, the Health Resources and Service Administration reports. That works out to 7,041 in Pennsylvania, 2,835 in Ohio and 175 in West Virginia.

According to UNOS, there were 42,888 transplants performed in 2022, which again was a record-setting number. There were 14,900 transplants from deceased donors last year, the 12th consecutive year a record was set. Transplants from living donors were up last year with more than 6,466 performed, a significant number, but lower than the record of 7,397 set in 2019.

Those numbers are impressive, but must be tempered with the sad reality that 17 people will die each day while awaiting a transplant, according to the Health Resources and Service Administration. And, while another person is added to the transplant waiting list every 10 minutes, only three people in 1,000 die in way that allows for organ donation.

The good news is that the HRSA reports there are 170 million people older than 18 registered as organ donors in the United States. That’s about 60 percent of all adults.

Myths surrounding organ and tissue donation likely keep more Americans from registering as donors.

The list includes the belief that donors will not be able to have an open-casket funeral. The fact is that donors are treated with dignity and respect and can have an open-casket funeral because their general outward appearance is unchanged.

There is no cost to potential donors or their families — that is covered by the organ procurement organization.

All major religions support organ and tissue donations, and there is no age limit — everyone from newborns to senior citizens has been able to share the gift of life by donating a heart, liver, lungs, kidneys, pancreas, corneas, bone, fascia, skin veins or heart valves. What matters is the person’s overall physical condition. Those who are under 18 must have the permission of an adult.

And, the numbers show that every donor can save eight lives, while enhancing the lives of 75 more.

Becoming an organ or tissue donor is simple — the easiest way to make your intentions clear is when you renew your driver’s license, a choice offered in Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

If you already have registered as an organ donor, we say thanks. If you have not, we hope you will consider that option and join the ranks of those who help give the gift of life.