Florida’s Donation Proclamation

Touched by the personal request from a Jacksonville kidney and pancreas recipient, Governor Ron DeSantis signed a proclamation declaring April as National Donate Life Month in the Sunshine State. In issuing the proclamation, the governor encouraged raising awareness about organ and tissue donation.

“We are so proud that one of our own North Florida transplant recipients is the person behind this proclamation, “ said Danielle Balbis, Executive-Director of LifeQuest Organ Recovery Services, the Organ Procurement Organization that serves North Florida. “Kimberly Clayton took the time to bring this to the governor’s attention. She knows that more attention means more registered donors and more lives saved.”

That attention included news media coverage, including this report on Fox 30 Action News Jax.

Each year, Donate Life America leads an observance of National Donate Life Month. Many states lend support by officially proclaiming that Donate Life Month will be observed within their boundaries. Prior to Kimberly Clayton’s request to Governor DeSantis, Florida was not among the states that recognize Donate Life Month. Because of her actions, that’s changed.

“I know how blessed I am to have received the gift of life, and I want to do all I can to help others who are waiting right now,” said Kimberly Clayton. Clayton is a certified Nurse Practitioner who volunteers with LifeQuest Organ Recovery Services to increase support for organ donation. “I was so excited when Governor DeSantis agreed to issue the proclamation but am not stopping there. I am contacting the remaining states who do not proclaim their support for Donate Life Month and ask them to do so.”

There are 10.6 million Florida residents registered to be organ donors, making Florida’s Joshua Abbott Organ and Tissue Donor Registry the nation’s third largest.  Donate Life Florida is currently supporting legislation in Florida’s House and Senate for a Donate Life Florida specialty license plate that would also help increase awareness of the need for organ donors.

“While our numbers of registered donors are up overall, there is still work to be done,” said Christopher Carroll, Executive Director of Donate Life Florida. “The need for transplant surgeries continues to grow. Each day in our nation, about 20 patients on the waiting list pass away because there are not enough organ donors to meet the need. Some of those patients lost are here in Florida. We want to do all we can to save lives. We thank the governor for the proclamation and ask lawmakers to support license plate legislation. We believe it will make a difference.”

Registering as an organ and tissue donor is easy and can take place when residents get or renew their driver licenses or can be completed online at DonateLifeFlorida.org. With nearly 114,000 men, women and children nationwide on the donor waiting list, the need could not be greater. Kimberly Clayton asks everyone to register and to join her in encouraging others to do the same.

“All my actions are intended to help those who are waiting and to honor the donor who saved my life,” Kimberly said. “I will continue doing that for the rest of my life.”

To see more of Kimberly Clayton’s story of receiving the gift of life, watch her video story.