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"You get to save somebody's life."
Shaun McQuay recently spoke at a UPMC event to describe his experiences as someone who donated a part of his liver and to tout the merits of organ donation.
As reported in Tuesday's edition of the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, the case to donate is straight-forward -- and life-saving.
The event was a chance for UPMC's leadership to share their gratitude with donors, and we join in appreciating donors' selflessness.
As UPMC North Central Pa. President Patti Jackson-Gehris noted, each donor to sign up has the potential to save eight lives.
And the need to realize that potential, unfortunately, remains as great as ever.
"The problem with transplantation is we always have an organ shortage," Dr. Amit Tevar, UPMC's director of kidney and pancreas transplants, said at the event.
We also should be grateful for the dedication and hard work of the staff and leaders of UPMC and other hospitals to educate the public about donation and the make transplants happen. They, of course, are a key component in this endeavor to save lives.
As Jackson-Gehris and Heidi Weeder, senior clinician, said, the staff and leaders take their responsibilities very seriously, with a commitment to compassion and to comprehensive care.
Since 1981, UPMC Transplant Services have performed more than 20,000 organ transplant surgeries.
More people have had their lives saved by UPMC organ transplants than live in South Williamsport, Montoursville, Hughesville, Muncy and Montgomery combined.
So, again, we appreciate all that our health care workers do to save and preserve lives. We appreciate the sacrifices made by Shaun McQuay, who said he "would do it again" if he could, and other organ donors.
And we hope everyone fortunate enough to be in good health will seriously consider talking with health care professional about whether they can donate life.
The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania offers more information on how to volunteer to donate at haponline.org and UPMC'a website also offers more information.