It is time to celebrate the individuals who donated their organs, eyes, and tissue to save someone else. April is National Donate Life Month. The goal is to spread more awareness about why it's important to become a donor.
We are trained to look up when we need someone to save us.
"Today, we're raising a flag in honor of those heroes," Marcy Dimond, CEO of Dakota Lions Sight and Health, said.
Not Batman, Superman, or Wonder Woman; We are talking about the two people who gave Ben Ekrem a second chance.
Ben: "I was able to walk my daughter down the aisle because of kidney transplant."
Brady: "What did that mean to you?"
Ben: "Everything."
A few years ago, after more than 30 years of dealing with diabetes, Ekrem says his kidneys gave out. His friend donated a kidney. After that transplant, Ekrem also received another donor's pancreas. That transplant cured his diabetes.
"I'm living proof it does mean everything to person you donate to," Ekrem said.
Not everyone has a friend who is a match. Hundreds of thousands of people in the United States are on a transplant list.
"The wait list is actually growing," Dr. Mike Elliott, Chief Medical Officer for Avera, said.
This is what Donate Life Month is all about. For years, area resources, including Avera and Dakota Lions Sight and Health, have been working together to increase the number of organ, eye, and tissue donations and transplants.
"Avera has been a leader in the region in transplantation, but the donating piece of it. That's where we collaborate with the Lions Eye Bank and Donate Life Center," Elliott said.
"One of the greatest gifts a donor family can see is a recipient who is actually living that life and doing well. It's powerful," Dimond said.
Even stronger than any superhero you'll find in a comic or movie. When you meet Ekrem, it is clear the donors all around us are the real people worth looking up to.
Brady: "How much do you love life now?"
Ben: "More than anyone could ever imagine."
If you make the choice to check the donor box when you get your license, Dimond and Elliott recommend you first have a conversation with your loved ones about your decision. It's now easier than ever to become a donor. You can also register online. To learn more, visit the Donate Life website.
We are trained to look up when we need someone to save us.
"Today, we're raising a flag in honor of those heroes," Marcy Dimond, CEO of Dakota Lions Sight and Health, said.
Not Batman, Superman, or Wonder Woman; We are talking about the two people who gave Ben Ekrem a second chance.
Ben: "I was able to walk my daughter down the aisle because of kidney transplant."
Brady: "What did that mean to you?"
Ben: "Everything."
A few years ago, after more than 30 years of dealing with diabetes, Ekrem says his kidneys gave out. His friend donated a kidney. After that transplant, Ekrem also received another donor's pancreas. That transplant cured his diabetes.
"I'm living proof it does mean everything to person you donate to," Ekrem said.
Not everyone has a friend who is a match. Hundreds of thousands of people in the United States are on a transplant list.
"The wait list is actually growing," Dr. Mike Elliott, Chief Medical Officer for Avera, said.
This is what Donate Life Month is all about. For years, area resources, including Avera and Dakota Lions Sight and Health, have been working together to increase the number of organ, eye, and tissue donations and transplants.
"Avera has been a leader in the region in transplantation, but the donating piece of it. That's where we collaborate with the Lions Eye Bank and Donate Life Center," Elliott said.
"One of the greatest gifts a donor family can see is a recipient who is actually living that life and doing well. It's powerful," Dimond said.
Even stronger than any superhero you'll find in a comic or movie. When you meet Ekrem, it is clear the donors all around us are the real people worth looking up to.
Brady: "How much do you love life now?"
Ben: "More than anyone could ever imagine."
If you make the choice to check the donor box when you get your license, Dimond and Elliott recommend you first have a conversation with your loved ones about your decision. It's now easier than ever to become a donor. You can also register online. To learn more, visit the Donate Life website.