Hoosiers wait for transplants as National Donate Life Month is observed

More than 100,000 Americans are on the list, waiting for a new organ.

"We want people to appreciate or understand the need we have in this country for organ donation," said Dr. Tim Taber from IU Health University Hospital.

April is National Donate Life Month and the doctors and surgeons at IU Health know a thing or two about donation. The network performs around 500 transplant surgeries a year, making it the fourth largest transplant center in the nation.

"Our success is the combination of a lot of people working, the nurses, the doctors, the hospital system, the OPO. It is has allowed us to be where we are now," said Dr. Taber.

That success also means shorter wait times for patients at IU Health University Hospital. In fact, the wait is up to 9-times faster than the rest of the nation.

Jarod Snow can attest to the importance of that.

"I had real high blood pressure which basically killed my kidneys," said Snow. "I was taking 30 pills a day, 40 pills a day."

A year and a half later, all those pills are a thing of the past. Now, Snow is looking ahead to a bright, new future.

"A lot of happiness with my kids, because there's not a timeline now that I'm looking down," said Snow.

Despite success stories like Jarod's, the need is still great. Just last year, 76 people in Indiana died while waiting on the transplant list.

If you are interested in becoming a donor, you can learn more by visiting the Donate Life Indiana website.