It’s been estimated that the average organ and tissue donor can save or improve the quality of life for as many as 75 people. Research also shows that when loved ones donate organs, it can help the family cope with their death. They feel like a part of their loved ones is living on in someone else.

Unfortunately, despite all the data about how organ donation improves people’s lives, not enough people donate their organs after death. Fortunately, there is a holiday attempting to change that fact. This holiday is known as National Organ Donor Day, and it is celebrated on February 14th.

We think it is fitting that this day falls on Valentine’s Day. Now people can not only give their heart to someone, but they can also literally give their heart to someone else and maybe save their life in the process.

The History Of National Organ Donor Day

This holiday was created in 1998. This is when the Saturn Corporation and its United Auto Workers partner organized the first day. This was further supported by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and a wide variety of other nonprofit health organizations since then.

A Brief History Of Organ Donation

One of the first human organs to be transplanted successfully was a kidney in 1954. After that transplant, the technology began to develop rapidly, and by the end of the 1960s, other organ transplants had been done, including liver, heart, and pancreas transplants.

By the 1980s, lung and intestinal organ transplants were possible and had been done successfully. By 2017, approximately 6,184 living donor transplants had been done, and 34,772 transplants, in general, had been completed. And from there, the number has continued to rise.

Facts About Organ Donation

Now that we’ve delved into the origins of this holiday, we’d like to shift our attention to giving everyone some more information on organ donation. Below are some facts we’ve unearthed about organ donation while researching this holiday.

• People of all ages and medical histories can become organ donors.
• Organ or tissue donation doesn’t affect the deceased’s ability to have an open-casket funeral.
• There is no cost to the donor’s family or estate for organ or tissue donation.
• Potential donors should let their families know their wishes for organ donation beforehand.
• Twenty people a day die because an organ they needed wasn’t donated in time.
• Every 10 minutes, a person is added to the organ waiting list.

Observing National Organ Donation Day

The best way for anyone to observe this holiday is by registering to be an organ, tissue, or eye donor. People can also help the cause by making tax-deductible donations to organizations such as Donate Life America or other such organizations. To spread the word about this day, people are also encouraged to use the hashtag #NationalOrganDonationDay on their social media accounts.