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Today Is National Organ Donor Day

WHEELING — Observed each year on Feb. 14, National Donor Day — also known as National Organ Donor Day — is a day to increase awareness about organ donation and the lives that can be saved. In the United States, more than 120,000 people are waiting for a life-saving organ donation.

CORE –the Center for Organ Recovery & Education — is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting donation, education and research for the purpose of saving and improving lives through organ, tissue, and cornea transplantation. CORE’s vision is for every potential donor to make a pledge for life.

CORE is one of 58 federally designated not-for-profit organ procurement organization in the United States.

With headquarters in Pittsburgh and an office in Charleston, W.Va., CORE oversees a region that encompasses 150 hospitals and more than 5 million people throughout western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Chemung County, New York.

It takes just one person to save the lives of as many as eight people and one individual can improve the lives of as many as 75 people or more through tissue donation.

Jody Miller is passionate about her mission and carrying on her daughters’ legacy. On March 25, 2008, Jody received the news that her 21 year old daughter, Heather, had been severely injured and suffered a major head trauma as the passenger in a car crash.

Heather Miller was just weeks away from graduating from the WVU School of Nursing. One week later, on March 31, 2008, she was declared brain dead.

In Heather Miller’s death, she chose the gift of life. Heather was a registered organ donor. She was able to donate her heart, liver, both kidneys and enhance up to another 50 lives.

The Heather Miller Memorial Golf Classic “It’s Not About the Golf,” many informational tables, Department of Motor Vehicles visits, social media posts, volunteering at CORE, Team Alleghenies Transplant, and creating a Mother’s Against Drunk Driving Chapter here in Wheeling are just some of the ways Heather’s legacy is carried out through her mother. The Heather Miller Memorial Golf Classic has awarded over 100 students nursing scholarships in her name.

In 2012, Heather Miller’s memorial floragraph was selected to be on the Donate Life in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena. She has been honored at the Transplant Games of America and a plaque was presented on behalf of donor families in Australia. Heather Miller’s family has had the privilege of meeting her kidney recipient and liver recipient in person.

“Even in times of desperation, you can make a difference in the lives of others. On this Valentine’s Day, National Donor Day, please be encouraged to make a pledge for life. Register to be an organ donor and be someone’s hero,” Jody Miller said.

Learn more at www.organdonor.gov.

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