Photo: Courtesy of New England Donor Services
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — April is National Donate Life Month, and in honor of that, the nonprofit organ procurement organization New England Donor Services joined Massachusetts state legislators, volunteers, donor recipients, and donor family members at an event on Beacon Hill.
NEDS has been coordinating organ and tissue donations in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, and Vermont since 2017.
They work with almost 200 hospitals and serve 14 million people across New England. NEDS screen nearly 50,000 potential donor referrals every year.
“You’re far more likely to need a transplant than to die in a manner where organ donation is even a possibility,” so if you would want an organ to be available for you, you should consider being a donor, said NEDS CEO and President Alex Glazier.
Photo: Courtesy of New England Donor Services
At event on April 3, organ recipients and donors’ family members spoke, such as Michele Decoteau, who lost her 39-year-old son, Dan, in 2021. Dan’s organs went on to save the lives of four people.
Michele said it’s important to have the hard conversations about these topics now before it’s too late, “because that was excruciatingly hard to make that decision for our son not knowing what his actual wishes would have been.”
Since then, Michele has been able to meet the man, Gary Swain, who carries her son’s heart. “The best part of that day was [that] we brought a stethoscope and Gary allowed me to listen to Dan’s heart beating inside his chest. And that was a very peaceful and joyful day.”
Photo: Courtesy of New England Donor Services
Gary also spoke at the Donate Life event at the Massachusetts State House. He shared his story about how he received a heart transplant.
Glazier, who attended the event as well, explained that “since 2020, there has been a 53% increase in Massachusetts with deceased organ donors.”
Attendees held up signs saying “Donate Life” and “Check the YES box,” which refers to registering as an organ donor through the RMV.
“It warms my heart and uplifts me to be in the room with people who are so grateful and thankful,” shared Michele.
WBZ NewsRadio's Madison Rogers (@MadisonWBZ) reports.
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