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The Michigan Organ Donor Registry now stands at more than 4 million people willing to be organ, tissue and eye donors, bringing the statewide total of donor registrants to 52 percent of adults.
The program is dedicated to reducing the need for organ and tissue transplants among ethnic and minority populations, who make up nearly 50 percent of patients waiting for a transplant.
Secretary of State Ruth Johnson said this is wonderful news for Michigan because organ, tissue and eye donation saves and improves lives.
Johnson said every name on the list means hope for the 3,500 people in Michigan waiting for a life-saving or life-enhancing transplant.
Since 2011, Michigan’s organ donor enrollment ranking has jumped from almost dead last to 35th in the country, matching the national average.
About 2 million people, or one-fifth of the state’s population, added their names to the donor registry in the last four years.
