Save 100kLives – Become an Organ Donor

95% of Americans are in favor of being an organ donor. Only 54% are registered.

We need to change this now. Registering 12,500 new organ donors will save 100,000 lives.

Some of them lives that we know.

Ari waited for a heart for 211 days. Every day was a risk, but eventually we got the call Ari needed to survive. This would not have been possible without the amazing kindness and selflessness of a family willing to donate organs in a time of incredible grief. We are so thankful every day for Ari’s gift.

Ari’s buddy Chase is next door here in the cardiac intensive care unit. Chase is 2 years old. He’s been waiting for a heart for over a year, now clinging to life. He needs one desperately.

But there aren’t enough hearts for all the children (and everyone) who need them.

In fact:

118,000 people are waiting for an organ
22 people die each day waiting for an organ
Each organ donor can save up to 8 lives

**Here’s what you can do right now:**

1. Click this poll to tell us you are just about to register to be an organ donor

2. Go to www.DonateLife.net and register to become an organ donor

3. Share!

Help us get 100k shares to save #100kLives! Cut and paste the following into Facebook and other social media:

Did you know that 1 organ donor can save 8 lives? Help me save #100kLives. If you’re not an organ donor, go to www.echoofhope.org/100kLives to register now. It only takes 1 minute. Please repost and share!

4. Leave a comment below!

You just made an amazing difference. Feel free to share any thoughts and tell us about why being an organ donor is important to you in the comments below.

***

Quick update on Ari: He’s recovering cardiac intensive care after his transplant, rejection episode, and cardiac arrest. He’s awake and breathing on his own after 24 days, but still has the rejection battle ahead of him.

We’ve been inpatient with him now for 5 months on this run. He knows we are building a new house (we lost our home a few weeks ago to a toxic mold infestation), and will live in a rental until it’s done. Hopefully we’ll get him home to see it sometime soon.

32 Comments »

32 Responses

on December 27, 2022 at 2:12 pm | Reply Susan C

Hello nnice post
on May 5, 2017 at 2:44 pm | Reply Tom Richard

Being a organ Donor is a option one has to actually help someone in need that money cant buy. For that reason alone is good enough for me.
on April 21, 2017 at 6:48 pm | Reply Andrea

I became an organ donor at 16 when I got my drivers license, I got on the national bone marrow registry at 18 while donating at a blood drive (once got called as a potential match… most exciting day ever! The other donor was a better match, but I hope to help if I’m a match one day!!) and I donate a triple unit of platelets every two weeks! As long as my body is willing and able, a donor I will be!❤️Give the gift of life!
- on April 21, 2017 at 8:34 pm | Reply Steve Z
  
  I have been following Ari’s story daily since he received his heart on March 3rd along with his family and all of his supporters and each time I come away feeling inspired and moved to tears. I originally registered as a organ donor in 2001 but being it was 17 years ago, I registered again on http://www.DonateLife.net today. I too am a organ recipient, once in 2001 and again in 2004 and the experience of receiving a second chance in life as well as crossing paths with so many caring human beings along the way is priceless. Ari will go the distance as he so courageously leads all of us by example each and every day.
  
  Many can make you smile
  Some people can make you cry
  But it takes someone really special
  to make you smile with tears in your eyes
  
  Ari, your that special person who make us all smile with tears in our eyes.
on April 21, 2017 at 1:08 pm | Reply panchang

please donate for Aris medical expenses also to build their new house
on April 21, 2017 at 12:59 pm | Reply panchang

please donate also for his medical needs and to build their house again
on April 21, 2017 at 12:21 am | Reply Scott Davis

If any of my organs are in good enough shape for transplant when I die, what do I need them for at that point?
on April 20, 2017 at 8:51 pm | Reply Carrie

I became an organ donor at 15 1/2 when I got my license and a bone marrow donor at 19. It wasn’t something I had to think twice about. My mom had 3 kidney transplants during her lifetime which came from living donors who happened to be siblings. I ended up getting a tattoo on my wrist of her name which was hope and the H is in the shape of a ribbon and the color of green for organ donation.
on April 20, 2017 at 8:27 pm | Reply Jagoda

I became an organ donor at 16 when I got my license. My father in law recently received a new kidney. My uncle received a kidney 15 years ago. Please consider being a donor! Help save a life and register today!
on April 20, 2017 at 6:46 pm | Reply Ann-Marie

I became a donor at 16 when I got my license and am still a donor today. Please become an organ donor today and help save lives!
on April 20, 2017 at 3:18 pm | Reply JoAnne Smith

My whole family are registered organ donors as well as registered bone marrow donors. We have personally experienced the gift of life. Our son has had three pancreas transplants. He would not be with us now had it not been for organ donation.
on April 20, 2017 at 12:17 pm | Reply Deb Sirois

I am an organ donor. Are you? Make a Difference today and register to save EIGHT lives!!!
on April 20, 2017 at 11:36 am | Reply Christine Cormack

My husband and I became donors about twenty years ago. Neither of us have been called as of yet. It is a wonderful organization.
- on April 30, 2017 at 9:54 pm | Reply Jenna Rowe
  
  Have you or your husband considered altruistic kidney donation? I ask because I am helping a friend look for a new kidney. She is in end stage renal failure and needs a transplant desperately. I understand this is a huge ask, but thought I would anyway 🙂
on April 20, 2017 at 11:28 am | Reply Nikki

I’ve been following your families story and my heart breaks for you. I can’t imagine the strength you have. I’ve registered and shared and I hope with all of my being that the goal is crushed and little Ari crushes these obstacles and comes out the other end a happy healthy little boy.
on April 20, 2017 at 4:38 am | Reply Lisa D.

For the most ridiculous reasons, I had been hesitant about registering to become an organ donor. Ari and family single handedly changed my mind therefore when I renewed my drivers license a few weeks ago, I finally registered. Xoxox
on April 19, 2017 at 10:20 pm | Reply Ann Cook

I hope to save EIGHT lives! Have been signed up for years. Please consider doing so!
on April 19, 2017 at 9:44 pm | Reply Marla Garcia

I have always been hesitant to become an organ donor. I have been following Ari’s journey. Your family and Ari are so inspiring! I just completed the form and became an organ donor. The way your family has shown such strength really motivated me to make a difference. I am a heart Mom myself to a 7 year old heart warrior. Thank you for raising such awareness! I will continue to pray for Ari, your family and all heart warriors and now for organ donors as well. God Bless you all!
on April 19, 2017 at 6:34 pm | Reply Tara Johnson

This is Awesome. I donated S kidney to my son, Andrew, when he was 2. Andrew is now 8. 💙👍🏻🎆
on April 19, 2017 at 4:42 pm | Reply Aubrey

I just filled out the form. I’ve known I wanted to be an organ donor, but that knowledge won’t help anyone when I’m gone. So I filled out the form today.
on April 19, 2017 at 4:41 pm | Reply Erica Jones

Just registered now to be an organ donor. Does anyone know, if you can register your kids as well?

Ari’s story is very inspiring, and has encouraged us as a family to discuss organ donation which before we would never have thought of.
on April 19, 2017 at 11:43 am | Reply thismomwithablog

Ever since becoming a Heart Mom myself, organ donation has been a cause that really hits home for me. Prayers to Ari and your family!
on April 19, 2017 at 9:53 am | Reply Leah Wyckoff

I’ve always felt strongly about being an organ donor. If my death can save up to 8 people, what good reason would I have not to be a donor? Thinking of Ari and sending positive thoughts his way as I look at my own 7 month old son (who looks like he could grow up to be Ari’s twin!) and am especially affected by this story. ❤
on April 19, 2017 at 8:12 am | Reply Cynthia Calabrese

As a registered organ donor and a mother I realize how important this is to kids such as Ari. I envision Ari and his father co-writing a book when Ari comes home.
on April 19, 2017 at 5:54 am | Reply Ranita thomas

In Pennsylvania we are asking when getting our license if we would like to be one and it’s printed that way. Thank you for all you are doing to help others Mike and family and we will continue to keep Ari in our prayers for a complete recovery.
on April 19, 2017 at 12:13 am | Reply CefsCelfies

Proud organ donor since the day I got my drivers license!
on April 18, 2017 at 11:22 pm | Reply Terisa Brakefield

I’m also registered to donate bone marrow and am bummed to not have received a call yet. Can’t wait to help someone’s quality of life. As for being an organ donor, it’s a no brainer (see what I did there?). What am I gonna do with them after I go? Not a darn thing. Love y’all.
on April 18, 2017 at 10:57 pm | Reply ellaaquino

Thank you for sharing and helping people on the waiting list and the opportunity to prolong their lives. I admire your family for the strength, courage to fight the battle.
on April 18, 2017 at 9:43 pm | Reply urs

I once lived through a similar story to Ari’s, except with a spouse. That was 30 years ago and I am so grateful that Ari’s doctors have more technology and knowledge than they had then. Perhaps John’s experience helped them learn.
on April 18, 2017 at 9:01 pm | Reply Jenn

I’ve been registered as an organ donor for nearly 20 years! 5 years ago I added myself to the bone marrow donor registry. ❤
on April 18, 2017 at 8:28 pm | Reply Genna Rosenberg

Save a life and become an organ donor today! xxo
on April 18, 2017 at 7:09 pm | Reply Judith M Goldberg

Not only have I always been an organ donor, when my children got their driver’s licenses, I encouraged them to be donors too. And they are. (G-d forbid, poo poo poo)