By Mayor Sheldon A. Neeley
City of Flint
(Op-eds may not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Flint Courier News and its staff.)
April is National Donate Life Month, and the City of Flint proudly joins communities across the country in raising awareness about the life-saving impact of organ and tissue donation. This month serves as a powerful reminder that each of us has the ability to make a lasting difference.
Organ donation is one of the most meaningful acts of generosity. It offers hope to those facing serious illness and gives families the chance to experience more time, more memories and more life. A single decision can save multiple lives and impact countless others.
For my family, this issue is deeply personal. In 2014, my wife, State Representative Cynthia Neeley, made the selfless decision to donate a kidney to her sister. That act of love gave her sister a second chance and more precious time with her family. My sister was also a donor, and it is a reminder that organ donation is not just about medicine. It is about compassion, sacrifice and humanity.
Here in Flint, we recently recognized National Donate Life Month alongside Representative Neeley, Public Health Manager Shebra Ward, Gift of Life Michigan and community members whose lives have been changed through organ donation. We heard powerful stories from recipients like Dominique Weatherspoon and Devin Addington, who are living proof of the difference one donor can make.
While these stories inspire us, they also remind us that many are still waiting. The need for organ donors remains great, but becoming a donor is simple. It takes only a moment to register, either at your local Secretary of State office or online.
Flint has always been a city that looks out for one another. Registering as an organ donor is another way we can show that care and compassion in action.
I encourage every resident to learn more, talk with your loved ones, and consider saying yes to organ donation. One decision can change everything.
For more information or to register, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/ya4khnr7
