The holiday season is one of giving, whether it be presents or surprises. However, there is one gift that should be given no matter the season: the gift of life through organ donation. “I want to help someone long after I’ve passed,” stated senior Patrick Osborne.

There are two types of donors: living and deceased. Living donors are, in fact, alive. They are considered to be a match for a person on the transplant list and both parties agree to proceed with the transplantation process. Deceased donors are those who are determined as brain-dead and have either previously given consent or their families have given consent. No matter the donor type, the donor must give consent, which is a common misconception. It’s not like in Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life where the two men in lab coats go to the old man’s house and ask for his liver. There are forms for a donor to fill out and sign and doctors must provide care for a patient until the patient is deceased. According to junior Caity DeCara, “There’s no use of your organs for yourself after you’ve passed. Why not donate it to someone in need?”

Resulting from New York Organ Donor Network (NYODN) and DonateLife NY’s research, there are over 120,000 people in the United States waiting for a solid organ transplant, including hearts, kidneys, and lungs. 18 people die every day while waiting for a transplant, and someone dies every 15 hours in New York while waiting. Each year, more than one million people need tissues, including heart valves, skin, and musculoskeletal tissue, and eyes. New York is ranked 49th in the nation for registered donors with 22% of New Yorkers over age 18 enrolled, compared to the national average of 47%.

Why not do something positive this season and give to those in need? Check out www.donatelifeny.org, sign up to be an organ donor, and help to save up to eight lives.