While Tuesday marks
Valentine’s Day on the calendar, it’s also National Organ Donor Day – where
true love comes in the form of saving a life.
According to
LiveOnNY, at least 10,000 people are on the organ transplant waiting list. They say at least one New Yorker dies every day
because the organs they needed did not come through soon enough.
“Have the conversation.
Let people know that you are willing to [be a donor]. You can't take this with
you,” said Leonard Achan, the CEO of LiveOnNY. “You are willing to live on and
have a legacy and have others live on through organ and tissue donation.”
When
fallen FDNY firefighter and volunteer Billy Moon, of Islip,
died in December
2022, he donated his organs and saved the lives of five people. His wife,
Kristina Moon, says even in death, Billy continues to be a hero.
“In the wake of my own
family's tragedy, I found peace in knowing Billy would live on. I was proud to
honor his wishes and proud that my kids would grow up knowing the type of hero
their dad was,” she said.
Michele
Martines's son, Christian Siems, of Greenlawn, received a lifesaving heart
transplant in April 2015. Her son's life and three others were saved because of
the decision made by U.S. Marine Nicolas Brown before he died.
“He said ‘yes.’ And his
family said ‘yes.’ And without them, my son wouldn’t be here,” said Martines.
Each person enrolled in
the organ donor registry can save up to eight lives.