One Decision Can Save Lives: Tennessee Donor Services Marks National Kidney Month

Each March, during National Kidney Month (March 1–31), Tennessee Donor Services joins healthcare organizations across the country in shining a light on kidney health, a critical part of overall well-being, and the lifesaving impact of kidney donation and transplantation.

Kidney disease affects millions of Americans, often without noticeable symptoms in its early stages. Every single day, more than 350 people in the United States begin dialysis due to kidney failure. Behind each statistic is a person, a family, and a future that depends on hope, and on the generosity of others.

The Urgent Need for Kidney Donation

• Millions of people in the U.S. are living with kidney disease, and the majority of the more than 100,000 individuals on the national transplant waiting list are waiting for a kidney.
• Sixty-five percent of patients waiting for a lifesaving kidney transplant are from communities of color. African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans face higher risks of developing kidney failure, due in part to higher rates of diabetes and high blood pressure.
• For many patients, a kidney transplant is widely regarded as the best option for improving both longevity and quality of life.

National Kidney Month is more than a moment of awareness; it is a call to action. It is an opportunity to prioritize kidney health through prevention and early detection, to support the thousands of individuals waiting for a transplant, and to consider registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor.

It is also a time to honor the incredible generosity of living donors and donor families who have made the gift of life possible for others.

Together, we can work to reduce the need for transplantation through education and prevention, while ensuring that lifesaving gifts are available when they are needed most. Hope starts with awareness and continues with action.

Register to become an organ, eye and tissue donor today.