I am deeply saddened by the death of Walter Payton. He was a friend and one of my personal heroes. Walter showed grace and courage not only on the field but also off the field in his battle with the disease.
When Walter announced his medical condition, he highlighted the need for organ donation across the country. Many citizens from Illinois signed up to become organ donors because of him.
More than 4,000 people in Illinois are waiting for an organ transplant. In Illinois one to two people are added to the list every day; 300 people die each year waiting for an organ. Up to 25 people can benefit from a single donor.
I know firsthand about the difficulty of finding a donor because my sister, Doris Ivy, had to wait for a kidney. Our family was fortunate, and Doris got her kidney. But in many cases, families aren’t so lucky. In the U.S., about 12 people who are on the waiting list die each day waiting for a donor. Every 16 minutes in our nation, a new person is added to the waiting list.
We need to continue the public awareness effort that Walter brought to the forefront. In Walter’s memory, let’s give the gift of life–become an organ donor. Call our organ and tissue donor registry at 800-210-2106.
