THE BEST, LAST GIFT YOU CAN GIVE
LifeQuest Organ Recovery Services, the UF Health-based organ procurement organization, serves all hospitals across a 36-county region of northern Florida, from Duval County in the east, to Escambia County in the west, and as far south as Marion County.
LifeQuest set a record in 2019 for its number of organ donors. Last year, there were 185 donors who provided lifesaving gifts to others in need. The highest number of donors in a given year prior to 2019 was in 2018, when 163 LifeQuest donors provided the gift of life.
In 2019, LifeQuest also recovered 540 organs that were used for transplants in 466 patients. Of those, 97 organs were recovered and transplanted for 84 patients at UF Health Shands.
“These are not just numbers to us,” said Danielle Balbis, LifeQuest executive director. “Each donor is a precious individual who left a legacy of caring and compassion for others. His or her family may never know whose lives were saved by their loved one’s generosity.”
One organ donor can save the lives of up to eight people. One tissue donor can enhance the lives of more than 50 people.
The easiest way to document your decision is to register on Florida’s donor registry at DonateLifeFlorida.org to become a lifesaving organ and tissue donor.
How can someone become a donor?
Register online at donatelifeflorida.org or when getting driver’s license.
Suffer a terminal traumatic brain injury, which requires mechanical ventilation.
Meet medical criteria and be referred from the hospital to the Organ Procurement Organization.
If not a registered donor, legal next of kin can authorize organ donation.