SENATE RESOLUTION 30

(By Senators Grady, Caputo, Maroney, Rucker, and Hamilton)

[Introduced February 13, 2023]

Recognizing February 14, 2023, as National Donor Day at the Legislature.

Whereas, The State of West Virginia recognizes February 14, 2023, as National Donor Day, a day to celebrate those who save and heal lives as organ, tissue, and cornea donors; and

Whereas, The State of West Virginia recognizes the Turner-Stone family of Charleston, West Virginia, for their commitment to organ donation and transplantation. Ermina Turner was one of the first kidney transplant recipients at Charleston Ara Medical Center over 30 years ago; and  

Whereas, This disease can be passed to family members, and Ermina Turner’s three granddaughters: Vicki, Samantha, and Jami are also carriers of polycystic kidney disease. Vicki had planned to be a living kidney donor to her younger sister, but tragically died from a brain aneurysm before that could happen. Fortunately, one of her kidneys did go to her sister Jami, just not as the living donor. Samantha is registered to be an organ donor and encourages others to do so as she knows the value of how many lives can be saved or improved; and

Whereas, More than 100,000 individuals in the United States, including 500 West Virginians, are currently awaiting a life-saving organ transplant; and

Whereas, Every 10 minutes a person is added to the national transplant registry waiting list. On average, more than 20 people die each day because the needed organ is not available in time; and

Whereas, One organ donor can save the lives of 8 people and heal 75 others; and

Whereas, West Virginia encourages all residents to register as an organ, tissue, and cornea donor online at dlwv.org, or at their local West Virginia DMV offices or on their West Virginia hunting and fishing license application; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby recognizes February 14, 2023, as National Donor Day at the Legislature; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the family of Ermina Turner.