Littauer Raises Awareness During Donate Life Month

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Laurence E. Kelly, NLH's President and CEO is seen with the Donate Life Flag.

GLOVERSVILLE, NY (04/09/2010)(readMedia)-- In recognition of National Donate Life Month and the life-saving benefits of organ and tissue donation, Nathan Littauer Hospital will fly the Donate Life Flag during the month of April. Nathan Littauer Hospital is currently partnering with the Center for Donation & Transplant (CDT) in the Donate Life Flag Remembrance Program, which honors patients and their families that choose to give the gift of life. In addition to flying the flag during Donate Life Month, a flag is flown following every organ and tissue donation case at the hospital and given to the donor's family in honor of their loved one.

Today, over 106,000 men, women and children are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant including over 9,500 New Yorkers. Over 28,000 organ transplants were performed in 2009. However, the need is still much greater than the number of organs available for transplant, with an average of 18 Americans dying every day due to the shortage of donor organs. Many people do not realize that one organ and tissue donor can help save or enhance up to 50 lives.

"The most important step in deciding to become a donor is to share your wishes with your family" stated Cheryl McGrattan, spokesperson for the hospital. New Yorkers can document their decision to be an organ and tissue donor by joining the New York State Donate Life Registry available online at www.donatelifecdt.com.

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The Center for Donation & Transplant is the federally designated non-profit organization that coordinates the retrieval of donated organs and tissues at 43 hospitals throughout western Vermont and northeastern New York State.

Nathan Littauer Hospital and Family of Health Services serves Fulton, Montgomery and Hamilton Counties Upstate New York with a full-service 84-bed hospital, eight primary care centers, a nursing home and a community education center. The hospital was founded 119 years ago, has 950 employees and recently opened a new Birthing Center.

Caption for photo: Laurence E. Kelly, President and CEO is seen with the Donate Life Flag.