You can help give Illinoisians waiting for a lifesaving transplant hope by registering your decision to become an Illinois organ donor
Mid-America Transplant is a nationally-recognized organ procurement organization (OPO) serving 84 counties, including 28 counties in southern Illinois. We work with healthcare partners across the region to ensure patients in our community receive lifesaving organ, eye and tissue donations.
Why Should I Become An Organ Donor in Illinois?
More than 1,500 people received lifesaving organ transplants in Illinois last year, more in a single year than ever before. Even as the number of transplants increase, nearly 4,000 people in Illinois are waiting to receive a lifesaving organ transplant. For patients and families waiting for a transplant, organ and tissue donation means the difference between life and death. One donor can heal the lives of more than 75 people.
What’s the difference between the Illinois state and national registries?
There are two separate registries that record your decision to become an organ, eye and tissue donor: the Illinois Organ/Tissue Donor Registry and the National Donate Life Registry.
When you register with your Illinois Secretary of State Facility, you are registering your decision with the state registry operated by the Secretary of State’s office.
When you register online, you are registering your decision with the national registry.
The National Donate Life Registry was launched in 2015 by Donate Life America to make donor registration easy, secure and mobile-friendly as Donate Life America partnered with organizations like Apple and Walgreens.
You can register in both registries, if you wish to do so. Both registries are checked by donation professionals at the time of your death, and the most recent donor registration is considered the legal documentation of your decision. One donor can heal the lives of more than 75 people.
What’s the difference between registering at the DMV vs. registering online?
At the time of your death, your most recent donor registration is considered the legal documentation of your decision – whether that is online on the Illinois Organ/Tissue Donor Registry, the National Donate Life Registry or at an Illinois Secretary of State Facility.
When you register your donation decision at an Illinois Secretary of State Facility, your driver’s license will include a state of Illinois icon with the word “Donor” in it to show your decision. You do not have to renew your donation decision every time you renew your driver’s license. However, you are encouraged to say “yes,” every time you obtain or renew your instruction permit or driver/nondriver license so your information remains current. In addition, your donation decision does not expire if your driver’s license expires or is revoked.
However, your driver’s license may not be available, or easily accessible, at the time of your death. Registering your decision online with the National Donate Life Registry means your decision will travel with you, no matter where you live or move across the country.
On both registries, you can specify your wishes for your body. This relieves your family from making tough decisions on your behalf as they mourn and grieve.
Register Your Decision Now
95% of Americans support donation, but only 60% are registered. Register your decision to become a Illinois organ donor now.
Illinois Service Area
Mid-America Transplant serves 28 counties in southern Illinois. Your donation could save the lives of countless patients in your community.
Illinois Counties We Serve
Alexander, Bond, Clinton, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jefferson, Jersey, Johnson, Madison, Marion, Massac, Monroe, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, St. Clair, Saline, Union, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, White, Williamson.
Organ Procurement Organizations Serving Illinois
Mid-America Transplant serves Illinois with Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network, based in Itasca, Illinois. Gift of Hope’s service area covers the northern three-quarters of Illinois.
Whether you join the Illinois Organ/Tissue Donor Registry or the National Donate Life Registry, medical professionals from Mid-America Transplant or Gift of Hope check both registries at the time of your death, and the most recent donor registration is considered the legal documentation of your decision.
Register as an Organ, Eye and Tissue Donor
Are you ready to help the nearly 4,000 people on the transplant waiting list in Illinois? Register your decision as an organ, eye and tissue donor now!
