Jesse White urges Normal West High School students to register as organ donors

Posted on April 12, 2018

By Crystal Donaldson

NORMAL – A new law allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to register as organ and tissue donors prompted Secretary of State Jesse White to visit Normal West High School in efforts to promote student registration.

April is National Donate Life Month and White said more than 11,500 teens have registered since the new law went into effect at the start of the new year.

“When you’re alive and well give blood,” White started. “When you’re no longer here give organs. When you’ve done those two things you will have made a positive impact upon society. Consider the fact that one person can provide life or improve the quality of life for 25 individuals.”

Normal West is where senior Livi Sonetz, the softball player who died in a car crash last month, attended. She was an organ donor.

“I think the organ donor program is one of the finest programs ever devised by man or woman. Just think about it. You need a heart. Someone passes away and you get the heart. You need lungs. Someone passes away and you get the lungs. It’s a tremendous thing,” he finished.

Registration for organ and tissue donation can be found at lifegoeson.com.

Crystal Donaldson can be reached at [email protected].

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