OKLAHOMA CITY – January 8, 2021 - LifeShare of Oklahoma announced today that 2020 was a record-breaking year for saving and healing lives through organ and tissue donation despite the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic brought to the healthcare system.

LifeShare is the organization in Oklahoma that faclitates organ, eye and tissue donation, and helped 508 individuals to receive lifesaving organ transplants in 2020 - an increase of 5% over 2019. In total, 532 organs were transplanted as some patients receive multiple organs in one operation. This was all made possible by the generosity of215 organ donors, 9% more donors than the previous year. Also, a more than 20% increase in the number of tissue and cornea donors means heal ing and restored sight to more than 82,000 people worldwide.

LifeShare partnered with Oklahoma’s hospitals and transplant centers as well as transplant centers across the nation to achieve this unprecedented number of donations and transplants. In 2020, LifeShare was again among the nation’s top performing organ procurement organizations.

“This record-breaking year is in large part in thanks to the commitment and the energy shown by our hospital partners, board, volunteers, staff and friends,” said Jeffrey Orlowski, President and Chief Executive Officer of LifeShare. “Our work is only made possible by the selfless donors and their generous families who make a powerful decision to save and heal lives. Our success is a celebration of our donors and their families, and an acknowledgement of their life saving and healing gifts.”

Throughout 2020, Life-Share also worked to increase the awareness about organ donation. As a result of these efforts, more than 64% of Oklahomans are currently registered to be organ donors, which is higher than the national average. With the number of people

With the number of people waiting for a transplant far exceeding the organs, eye and tissue that are available – the need is great. Nationally, more than 108,000 people are waiting for organ transplant. At least 20 will die each day without receiving a lifesaving gift. For every person who becomes an organ and tissue donor, 75 lives can be saved or dramatically improved.

“Although 2020 was an exceptional year for organ and tissue donation in Oklahoma, LifeShare also recognizes that more than 600 people in the state are currently waiting on life saving transplants,” Orlowski said. “In 2021, LifeShare will continue to do what we do best: Save Lives through Donation.”

About LifeShare

LifeShare is a nonprofit, federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) dedicated to the recovery of organs and tissue for transplant purposes. We work closely with three transplant centers and 145 healthcare organizations in the state of Oklahoma to facilitate donation. Additionally, we strive to raise awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation through public education.

For more information about LifeShare, please visit www.LifeShareOK.org.