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Summerville Journal Scene • March 21, 2012
Lifepoint raising awareness for organ donors The Journal Scene
he state’s entire organ donor registry w a s wiped out in 2008. That’s the n e w s LifePoint, Inc. Organ & Tissue Donation Services for South Carolina Media Relations Coordinator Mark Johnson is spreading to get organ donors registered. This year is the first time LifePoint, a non-profit based in Charleston since 1984, has a booth at Flowertown Festival. The federally mandated LifePoint handles all donations of organs, tissues and eyes across the state. Many S.C. Driver’s Licenses have organ donor hearts on them, but those are
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only valid for people who’ve been to the DMV since December 2008, Johnson said. “One thing people don’t understand is that if they haven’t been to the DMV since December ‘08 they aren’t actually a registered donor. The people who have a heart on license before that cannot be grandfathered in.” “There wasn’t the ability or mandate to have registry prior to then. The registry was lost in Dec. 2008. Since then people have been registering to be donors.” For those who haven’t been to the DMV in a few years or aren’t going anytime soon, Johnson recommends registered at www.donatelifesc.org. “We work with Donate Life South Carolina to increase awareness.” The organization recovers tissue at the time of death for people who became donors, Johnson said. “We work to educate people about the concept of tissue and organ donation. It’s obviously the first time we’re there.
With a large number of people going by the organizer thought we’d be a good fit. We’ll have flyers and people will have information on how to sign up to be an organ and tissue donor.” He said they will also have information on the S.C. Donor and Tissue Registry. “One donor can save up to eight lives and improve the lives of 50 or more through tissue donation. The more people who signed up as donors, the more lives can be saved. “Not everybody can be a donor, depending on their condition of death. Just because everyone is signing up doesn’t mean they can all be used. “Over 113,000 people across the country are waiting on a transplant right now. There are about 1,000 in S. C.” Johnson said donations are important and hopefully many more people will consider becoming donors to save more lives. For more information visit LifePoint’s website at www.lifepointsc.org or find them on Facebook.
Lifepoint: ‘One donor can save up to 8 lives.’
FREE INSTALL
ON CARPET &
0% INTEREST
Free Padding with Carpet
20th Annual Catfish Festival St. Stephen, SC
SJ05-716903
BY STEFAN ROGENMOSER
Phone (843)851-7600 1580 Trolley Road, Summerville, SC 29485 www.magnoliaflooring.net
Antiques & Eclectic Finds
A top 20
Southeast Tourism Society award winning Festival
for the Home & Garden
At the corner of US 52 and Highway 45 Friday, March 30, Saturday, March 31 and Sunday, April 1, 2012 BI01-62968
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LIVE BAND • CATFISH STEW • CRAFTS • RIDES • FOOD VENDORS
Open 10am – 5pm • We're open later for the Festival!
FREE TO PUBLIC EVENTS ALL DAY BI01-706524
www.squirrelsnestsummerville.com SJ07-708550