Organ Donation

Why Choose Organ Donation

Each year, thousands of people die while waiting for the gift of life—a new organ. By registering to be an organ donor, you have the potential to save lives.

Each day, 78 Americans receive an organ donation to save their life. Unfortunately, 100 people die every week while waiting on the transplant list containing over 100,000 other names. Not only can organs be used, but each deceased donor can also provide hip joints, corneas, bones, connective tissue, blood vessels and skin to those in need.

Patients awaiting a transplant are ranked based on medical urgency and length of time waiting. Each patient is matched to a donor using different factors, including blood type, to reduce the likelihood of organ rejection by the body.

Although it is not easy to talk about death or the possibility of becoming a donor, it is important to talk with your family, friends and doctor about your wishes regarding organ donation. Registering yourself as an organ donor will not affect your medical care should you become ill or injured. All efforts will be made to save a patient's life regardless of their donation status.

How to Become an Organ Donor

Salinas Valley Health has teamed up with Donate Life California to make signing up to become an organ donor easy. Click here or on the Donate Life logo to begin a quick and easy sign up process and make your commitment to save lives.

Your decision offers hope to more than 122,000 people awaiting a life-saving transplant in the United States. 20% of these patients are right here in California. You have the power to save up to eight lives through organ donation and heal another 50 through tissue donation.

Join Salinas Valley Health and make a difference! People like you save lives each and every day!