April is National Donate Life Month, a time to honor Hoosiers who have saved and healed lives through organ and tissue donation.
In 2025, the Indiana Donor Network helped save 1,214 lives through 1,379 organ transplants from 467 Indiana donors. The organization also recovered 15,734 tissues from 1,558 donors, helping restore sight and improve the quality of life for many Hoosiers.
Currently, more than 1,400 Hoosiers are on the transplant waiting list, part of nearly 109,000 people nationwide awaiting lifesaving organs. On average, 17 Americans die each day because the organ they needed did not become available in time.
“One organ donor can save eight lives. One tissue donor can help heal more than 75 people. One cornea donor can restore sight to two,” said Indiana Donor Network President and CEO Kellie Tremain. “The gift of life is the greatest gift anyone can give. Donation is proof that compassion outlives us and can be a new beginning for others.”
Hoosiers of all ages and medical backgrounds are encouraged to register as organ and tissue donors. There are five ways to sign up:
- Online at DonateLifeIndiana.org
- At a local Bureau of Motor Vehicles branch
- When applying for a hunting, fishing, or trapping license through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources
- When applying for a professional license through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency
- Through the Health app on an iPhone or iPad
More than 4.5 million Hoosiers are registered organ, tissue, and cornea donors, while more than 170 million Americans have joined the Donate Life community nationwide.
About Indiana Donor Network
The decision to become an organ, tissue, or cornea donor is a decision to give the gift of life. Indiana Donor Network serves as the vital link between donors and patients waiting for lifesaving organ transplants, healing tissue, and corneas to restore sight. The organization is a federally designated organ recovery organization and accredited tissue bank serving 85 of Indiana’s 92 counties. Its team of nearly 400 dedicated professionals is committed to saving and healing lives through donation and transplantation, championing the cause through education and outreach, and supporting donor families in their time of need. For more information or to sign up as a donor, visit Indiana Donor Network online.
About Indiana Donor Network Foundation
Founded in 1997 as a subsidiary of Indiana Donor Network, Indiana Donor Network Foundation enhances the lives of those touched by donation through education, innovation, caring, and support. The foundation raises funds through individual contributions, special events, and sponsorships to support transplant recipients and the families of donor heroes. For more, visit Indiana Donor Network Foundation online.
About Donate Life Indiana
Since 1998, Donate Life Indiana has been the state-authorized nonprofit responsible for managing the Indiana donor registry. Its mission is to save lives by creating opportunities for all Indiana citizens to register as donors while raising awareness about organ, tissue, and cornea donation through public education. For more, visit Donate Life Indiana online.
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