TRUST FOR LIFE

News release

The Kentucky Circuit Clerks’ Trust For Life is proud to announce that last year was a record-setting year, both locally and nationally, for saving lives through organ donation and giving individuals a second chance at life.

“In Kentucky, more than 140,000 people joined the Registry for the first time. 1,979,175 Kentuckians are now registered, which is 60 percent of the adults in our commonwealth,” said Boyle County Circuit Clerk Cortney Shewmaker.

Nationally, the 36,527 organs transplanted set an annual record for the sixth straight year, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing. Locally, Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates cared for 134 organ donors, resulting in 423 organs transplanted. These were the highest numbers of organ donors and organs transplanted in the organ procurement organization’s 32-year history. Also, more than 30,000 lives were enhanced by the generosity of 367 tissue donors. An additional 1,000 patients have gained the gift of sight from 824 cornea donors.

“As your circuit court clerk, I am honored to partner with the lifesaving mission in which donors and their families give others a second chance at life. I am proud of my deputies for asking each customer about joining the registry and donating $1 toward increasing education about organ donation,” Shewmaker said. “In 2018, 3,058 supportive Boyle County residents donated $1 for community education. I am ecstatic to announce that 14,409 generous Boyle County residents are now registered donors. Every registered donor is a bright symbol of hope for children and adults waiting on a lifesaving organ.”