| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, April is National Donate Life Month, and on April |
|
|
17, 2007, the Texas Transplantation Society has invited transplant |
|
|
physicians, surgeons, nurses, organ recipients, donors, and family |
|
|
members of donors to celebrate Donate Life Texas Day at the Capitol; |
|
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, During the month of April, people across the state |
|
|
and nation are making special efforts to recognize those who have |
|
|
saved lives by becoming organ, tissue, marrow, and blood donors and |
|
|
to encourage other Americans to follow their fine example; although |
|
|
the decision to donate is often difficult, this compassionate |
|
|
gesture has the power to grant second chances to those in need; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The TTS and the Department of State Health Services |
|
|
strive to educate all Texans about the critical shortage of organ |
|
|
donors and the lifesaving benefits of transplantation; more than |
|
|
95,000 men, women, and children nationwide, including more than |
|
|
7,000 Texans, are anxiously awaiting organs for lifesaving |
|
|
transplants, and this number grows daily; meanwhile, thousands of |
|
|
patients will die before a donor becomes available; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The 79th Legislature created the D.E.A.R. Program of |
|
|
Texas, which in conjunction with the DSHS, the Texas Department of |
|
|
Transportation, the Department of Public Safety, and the private |
|
|
sector, allows Texans to register their intent to donate organs, |
|
|
tissue, or eyes in the event of death; the Honorable Glenda Dawson, |
|
|
the recipient of a kidney donation, understood firsthand the urgent |
|
|
need for organ donors; drawing on her own personal experience, she |
|
|
worked to inform others of the crucial benefits of transplantation, |
|
|
and her story remains an inspiration to countless people; members |
|
|
of the legislature are working to honor the late representative's |
|
|
legacy by renaming the D.E.A.R. program the Glenda Dawson Donate |
|
|
Life-Texas registry; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Myriad state employees are involved in the effort to |
|
|
promote organ donation, including the men and women on the front |
|
|
lines of DPS driver's license offices and TxDOT tax offices who |
|
|
daily communicate to the public the benefits of transplantation; |
|
|
moreover, medical professionals and members of the Texas |
|
|
Transplantation Society play an important role in facilitating |
|
|
transplants; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Those visiting the Capitol today come together to |
|
|
honor an act of tremendous generosity and selflessness, and their |
|
|
tireless efforts in support of organ donation help bring transplant |
|
|
patients closer to realizing their wishes for longer and healthier |
|
|
lives; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby recognize April as National Donate Life Month, |
|
|
commend the many individuals who have chosen to become organ |
|
|
donors, and encourage all Texans to consider giving the gift of life |
|
|
through organ donation. |