Organ recipients in Holyoke express gratitude to donors

Local Oregon recipients used the morning to thank their donors ahead of Thanksgiving in Holio. >> 22 News reporter Sarah Bianame joins us live in studio with a call for more donors. That's right, Nikasar. Organ donations are rare. Only 48% of people in Massachusetts are registered as donors and that's lower than the national average. Reasons why members of New England donor services join state and local officials at Holio City Hall this morning to encourage people to register as organ donors. Each person spoke on this life-saving measure, including a woman from East Lung Meadow. Two years ago, Elizabeth Gorman was able to receive a double lung transplant after radiation scarred her lungs from a battle against breast cancer. She's now able to do all the activities she once loved. So, every year on Thanksgiving, she gives a toast to her donor. Gorman and the others advise everyone to start a conversation about organ donations at the dinner table this year and beyond. Yeah. >> Every day I drink my bottle of water with my meds and I give a little toast to my donor and it's just I wouldn't be alive right now if it weren't for this selfless person. >> This event comes as the nonprofit achieved a record number of donations and transplants for four consecutive years. In 2024, 648 organs were donated, resulting in nearly 2,000 transplants. But more than 6,000 people are still on the wait list for a transplant in New England. If you'd like to save someone's life, we'll have a list of ways to become a donor on our website, wwwllp.com.