Kenmore’s Michelle Cass will celebrate her greatest gift during this season of giving: the life in her son. Six-year-old Ben was suddenly diagnosed with acute liver failure in March 2008. He received a portion of his dad’s liver and is now enjoying second grade.

The Casses ask others to give the greatest gift of all — the gift of life by registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor — this month. The season of giving is nationally recognized as a special time of year to “Give Thanks, Give Life.”

There are more than 100,000 people on the national transplant waiting list. Eighteen people die each day waiting for transplants. Locally, more than 1,600 people are waiting and not all of them will live to see the transplant they need.

There are three ways to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor in Washington:

• Register online at www.DonateLifeToday.com

• Call toll-free at (877) 275-5269 and request a brochure to fill out and return.

• Say “eyes” to donation when renewing your driver’s license. Residents who already have a heart on their driver’s license are automatically added to the Donate Life Today Registry.

The Donate Life Today Registry is managed by LifeCenter Northwest — one of the 58 federally designated nonprofit organ procurement organizations (OPO) in the United States. By educating the community about the need and the importance for people to register their donation wishes, they hope to help those waiting for the gift of life. In this time of giving, Donate Life Today encourages everyone to register their wishes at www.DonateLifeToday.com.

LifeCenter Northwest

organization members