Note from Stacey

CALIFORNIA NEWS : I just signed up on-line to be an organ donor. Here’s some exciting news: SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct. 11 /PRNewswire/ — In a history-making move, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law Senate Bill 689 — legislation designed to save tens of thousands of lives by calling on the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to partner with the new Donate Life California Organ and Tissue Donor Registry*. Under the new law, the California DMV will begin on July 1, 2006 to capture donor decisions of licensed drivers on new and renewal license applications, and will electronically share that information with the Donate Life California Registry. Registrants will also be able to make a voluntary contribution of $2.00 or more to the registry and public education about donation. “Never before has the state of California had a registry system accessible to all,” said Jackie Speier, (D-San Francisco/San Mateo), author of the legislation. “By partnering with the DMV, the Donate Life California Registry will provide all 23 million licensed drivers with the opportunity to give life through organ and tissue donation. This law potentially boosts the ranks of those committed to donate life from the tens of thousands to the millions.” Until the law takes effect next July, the Donate Life California Registry will continue to be available only online at www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org Currently in California, nearly 19,000 people wait for a life-saving transplant — 21% of the nation’s total of nearly 90,000 transplant candidates. Tragically, one-third of those waiting will die waiting due to a lack of donors. The numbers demonstrate the need to better identify those willing to give life. Each registrant has the potential to save up to eight lives through organ donation and enhance another 50 lives through tissue donation. Stacey, from Belmont