Learn About Organ Donation

Organ donation brings life to the thousands of people who are on the national transplant waiting list. The UW Health Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) is nationally recognized for its effort to improve organ donation rates. As a founding member of the Donate Life Wisconsin Collaborative, the UW Health OPO team works tirelessly to educate and promote donation.

	A Donor's Story: Stephen Rutherford   A construction accident claimed Stephen's life at the tragically young age of 19. Organ donation provided an avenue to continue his lifelong habit of helping others.
	A Recipient's Story: Jay Deppe   Jay Deppe, who underwent a pancreas transplant five years ago, recently met the family of the man who donated the organ Jay received.

Getting Involved with Organ Donation 

• Share your intent to donate. Add an orange donor dot to your driver's license or state I.D. and tell your family and friends you support donation. To have this designation included on your Wisconsin driver record, send an e-mail to driverrecords.dmv@dot.state.wi.us and include your full name, driver's license number, current address and a statement such as "I would like my record to reflect that I would like to be an organ and tissue donor." Upon receipt of your e-mail, the DMV will mail you an orange donor dot that you can place on your license or state I.D.
• Place an orange sticker on your work nametag to create an opportunity to discuss your personal commitment to donation.
• Add the Donate Life logo to your e-mail signature.
• Send e-postcards to your family and friends.
• Post a Web banner on your personal or company Web site.
• Display a Donate Life window decal on your car. (Available from UW Health OPO.)
• Add a "Got Your Dot?" bumper sticker to your car. (Available from UW Health OPO.)
• Go to donatelife.net and select your state to learn more about organ donation where you live.

About National Donate Life Month

April is National Donate Life Month. Join the more than 2.5 million Wisconsinites who have already shared their intent to donate.

National Donate Life Month was instituted in 2003 by Donate Life America, a not-for-profit alliance of national organizations and 47 local coalitions based across the United States. National Donate Life Month features an entire month of local, regional and national activities that work to encourage Americans to share their intent to become a donor.