AHOP

Donating an organ or tissue is the ultimate gift. One organ and tissue donor can save or enhance up to 75 lives. But throughout Allegheny County, a lot of families say “no” when a loved one has died and could become an organ donor. Feb. 14 is National Donor Day. It is a day to promote awareness about all types of organ and tissue donation. In the U.S., more than 100,000 people are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant.

My daughter LaNae was born with a rare kidney disease called autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease. On the day she was born, she was given 24 hours to live. She has surpassed that and turned 32 on Dec. 22. She received her first kidney transplant when she was just 14 years old.