LIHU‘E — Benny Lagmay, representing the Hawai‘i Coalition on Donation, is the recipient of a donated heart.
Lagmay was on hand at the Lihu‘e Civic Center’s Mo‘ikeha Building rotunda to receive a mayoral proclamation announcing April as National Donate Life Month from Mayor Derek Kawakami.
“Her name was Samantha,” Lagmay said. “She was only 23 years old. If it wasn’t for her donation, I wouldn’t be here to accept this today.”
According to the proclamation, more than 350 people in Hawai‘i are waiting for lifesaving liver, kidney or pancreas transplants.
People of all ages are considered potential organ, eye and tissue donors, and each organ and tissue donor can save the lives of eight people as well as restore sight and mobility for up to 75 or more people.
Lagmay and Kawakami quickly developed a friendship through their mutual love of surfing, comparing the different conditions at different sites on the island.
Lagmay is also one of 51 adults and two pediatric patients on Kaua‘i who received lifesaving or life-enhancing transplants through the professionalism and good works of those who make transplants possible.
Education, legislative support, partnerships with local hospitals, media attention and visibility have helped to increase the number of organ donors and transplants in the state.
“I met Samantha’s mother,” Lagmay said. “We still stay in touch. They’ve never been to Hawai‘i, and one day I’d love to have her visit Kaua‘i where I live.”
In the County of Kaua‘i, the proclamation states that “the aloha tradition of caring and compassion for others will help us to continue to increase the number of organ donors in our community and bring hope to the eight Kaua‘i residents who are currently waiting for a lifesaving transplant.”
“It’s easy,” Kawakami said. “Just check the box on the driver licensing form.”
The Hawai‘i Coalition on Donation — including the Blood Bank of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Bone Marrow Donor Registry, the Hawai‘i Donor Family Council, the Hawai‘i Lions Eye Bank &Makana Foundation, the Hawai‘i Living Donor Council, Legacy of Life Hawai‘i, the National Kidney Foundation of Hawai‘i, Queen’s Transplant Center, and the Queen’s Medical Center, Surgical Associates, Inc. — encourages all Hawai‘i residents to save and heal lives by registering as organ, eye and tissue donors.
The coalition also asks people to share the donate life message that all have the superpower to save and heal lives because the gifts of life, sight and healing are the most generous and honorable gifts one person can share with another.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
