By Kayla Cohen ’17

Many teens are in the process of getting their driver’s licenses, and they will be asked whether or not they would like to be an organ or tissue donor. Most young people likely have not given the issue much thought and might say no to being a donor.

Each day, 79 people get an organ transplant, but 22 people die waiting for a transplant that cannot take place because of the shortage of donor organs. Although there is much grief that results from someone dying, if the deceased person is a donor, families can be consoled by knowing that a piece of someone they love will prolong another person’s life. With many people being diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses, donating organs will ensure that at least one or more people will continue their life.

If one does not have a driver’s license or wants to change his or her status to be an organ donor, he or she can sign up on the website www.organdonor.gov. It might seem like a small thing, but becoming a donor is one of the bigger decisions for students to think about while earning their licenses.