I believe organ donation is a beautiful gift for families – those with hands and paws – so until we get that call, we’re going to give lots of cuddles and head scratches.” We all anticipate that call with word of a match. “My family, including Heidi and Aldo, make each day brighter, and I want more days with them. Kim is participating in the “Save My Human” campaign and hopes her German shepherds – Heidi and Aldo – wearing the “Save My Human” sign will help convince Kentuckians that adding their names to the donor registry matters to all family members. Since then, she’s been waiting for that fateful call. After receiving a polycystic kidney disease diagnosis at age 16, Kim received word a kidney transplant would be necessary to save her life. She’s also not the first person in her family impacted by donation her mother also received a lifesaving transplant more than a decade ago. Kim Horn of Louisville, Ky., is awaiting a transplant, and she’s an avid supporter of the Donate Life KY mission. Everything is available on While this idea may be a little dif-fur-ent, the message of the campaign remains the same – register as an organ, eye, and tissue donor and help save lives. “Pets are family, and they suffer alongside friends and other loved ones when their human needs an organ transplant and doesn’t receive one, so we’re giving them the chance to help us with this campaign.”Īs part of the 2023 “Save My Human” campaign, branded and purchasable merchandise is available for both people and pets, along with a printable sign that says, “Save My Human,” which community members can print out for their pet to pose with for social media using the hashtag #SaveMyHuman. “We’ve worked tirelessly to educate the general public on the importance of joining the donor registry, dismantle the misconceptions of organ donation, and inspire communities about the lifesaving impact of donation and transplantation now we’re getting our furry friends involved,” said Shelley Snyder, Donate Life Kentucky Executive Director. 20, pets across Kentucky have the op-paw-tunity to use their voice, or bark, to help those they love the most – their humans – by encouraging those who have not yet joined the organ donor registry to check “yes.” Coinciding with National Love Your Pet Day on Feb. For every treat, every behind-the-ear scratch, and every game of fetch pets get from their humans – their love continues to grow however, what happens when their human becomes ill and needs an organ transplant to keep the family together? To help, pets across Kentucky have traded chasing their tails for a call to action by teaming up with Donate Life Kentucky for its new “Save My Human” campaign. Donate Life Kentucky has gone to the dogs … and cats, birds, and horses. KODA says it is crucial to help these communities understand that registering to be an organ donor can help with this shortage and save more lives.ĭonate Life KY’s “Be The One” campaign focuses on helping Black communities move past the potential hesitancies associated with becoming a registered donor and being “the one” who could help give the gift of life.LOUISVILLE, Ky. In 2020, those within the Black community accounted for 28% of the U.S.

However these are the cultural groups that statistically are less likely to register to be an organ donor.Ĭurrently, there are over 100,000 people across the country awaiting a lifesaving transplant, with someone new added to the national waiting list every 10 minutes. Currently, populations from diverse backgrounds make up 60% of the national transplant waiting list. The most powerful thing you can give is the gift of life through organ donation.ĭonate Life KY has launched a new awareness campaign, “Be The One,” that aims to raise awareness around organ donation and transplantation within Black communities throughout the state. (WBKO) - As we soon head into the holiday season, we start thinking about gift-giving.

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