April marks the 11th annual National Donate Life Month, a celebration commemorating those who have given the gift of life through organ, eye and tissue donation. For those whose lives have been saved or healed by a transplant, Donate Life Month provides a chance to share their story to encourage more people to register as donors.

Currently, more than 121,000 men, women, and children are awaiting organ transplants in the United States. Nearly 1,000 of these individuals reside right here in our Kentucky communities, explains Clinton Circuit Court Clerk, Jake Staton.

Many Kentucky residents have received life saving transplants. One example from Jefferson County is a little boy named Ethan. It was discovered when Ethan was just a few weeks old, that the nerves in his intestines were not working properly, and he would need an intestinal transplant to live. After two years on the transplant waiting list, Ethan’s family got the call that their prayers had been answered. This phone call may have never been received if not for the questions being asked by the Clinton Circuit Clerk’s office.

Betty Lingenfelter from Christian County is another inspiring story who has been living life to the fullest after receiving a liver transplant in 1998. Betty is now a strong advocate for organ donation, serves on the Trust For Life Board of Directors and is thankful for the circuit clerk’s offices and the questions they ask every day that help save lives.

The transplant waiting list is made up of people of all ages, so it’s important to note that people of any age can make a powerful difference in someone’s life by being a donor.

Donation saves and heals lives every day, but it can only happen when someone makes the important decision to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor.

You can make that life saving difference by registering your decision when you renew your license at your circuit clerk’s office or you can register online today at www.donatelifeky.org.

The Circuit Clerk’s office encourages everyone to join them in sporting blue and green during April to bring awareness to this important mission.

Everyone is encouraged to post pictures on the Trust For Life Facebook (www.facebook.com/trustforlife) page for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to the Trust’s online store (www.shopddonorawareness.com) for the best blue and green “look.” The winner will be chosen on May 1.

Clinton Circuit Clerk Jake Staton, left, and the staff in the Clinton Circuit Clerk’s office, are joining Circuit Clerk offices across Kentucky in April in their observance of National Donate Life month. Drivers in Kentucky can pledge their desire to become organ transplant donors when renewing driver’s licenses, or by signing up online at: www.donatelifeky.org.