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One million Idahoans say ‘yes’ to saving lives

The Idaho Transportation Department says Idaho is one of the top states in the nation for organ donation.

BOISE, Idaho — One million Idahoans have said  "yes" to saving lives through organ, eye and tissue donation.

To celebrate, a press conference was held at the Idaho Transportation Department Tuesday morning.

Idaho is currently in the top 7 states nationally for the percentage of people who say “yes" to donation on their driver’s license or state ID.

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In 2018, 149 lives were saved by Idahoans through organ donation and transplantation.

“I think part of the reason we're in the top 10, it's the giving nature of people here in Idaho. We're also fortunate to have help from ITD, the emergency medical system,” said Alex McDonald with Intermountain Donor Services. “The more people that get transplants, the more family stories there are, and so I think a lot of times it's word of mouth as well."

April is national Donate Life Month, so every Thursday night on the News at 10 and Friday morning on Today's Morning News we are featuring people who have either received or given the gift of life through organ donation.

This Thursday night at 10 -- the story of Matthew Wright -- a Boise teenager who lost his life in a car accident, but saved four lives by donating his heart, liver and kidneys; and gave two other people the gift of sight by donating his corneas.  

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