Organ donations pass on gift of life

The Telegraph

Time after time, The Telegraph has been told a story about how someone’s life was saved because of an organ transplant.

Each time, it reinforces the importance of people signing up to become organ donors. It isn’t hard to become a donor. Each time someone renews their driver’s license, they can become one, and through organizations such as Donate Life and its website, someone can join the nationwide list.

Cathy Dunnagan is a living example. She and her husband, Jeff, consider her life a “miracle” because of a successful liver transplant. Cathy developed a rare cancer called cholangiocarcinoma, a bile duct cancer; she survived two liver transplants and is alive only because people’s families donated their loved one’s livers after tragedies.

It also was inspiring to see two young men visit The Telegraph and the region late last week to promote their crusade across country to bring awareness to the importance of organ donation and to persuade people to sign up as donors.

Joseph Choppi and Max Mossler, of Phoenix, have been riding across country on a 1,800-mile cycling trip, headed to Wrigley Field in Chicago to spread the ashes of Joseph's brother, Michael.

Joseph and Max have stopped at all kinds of spots along the way and met people who likely have been impressed by their sincerity and kindness. People in the Alton region met them late last week, when Cathy and Jeff Dunnagan hosted them at their home and bought them a meal at Fast Eddie’s in Alton.
______________________________________________________ 
"You have the power to SAVE lives." 
To register as a donor TODAY
In California: 
www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org | www.doneVIDAcalifornia.org 
Outside California: 
www.organdonor.gov | www.donatelife.net

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