Every eight minutes, a new name is added to the national transplant waiting list, and across the U.S., 13 people die each day waiting for a life-saving organ that never comes. In Mississippi, more than 1,000 people are currently waiting for a transplant. About 70% of those waiting are African American, and most are in need of a kidney. Despite this urgent need, only about 35% of Mississippians are registered organ and tissue donors—well below the national average of 54%. This lower registration rate has a real impact, especially on communities of color where transplant needs are highest.
While Mississippi has reached a milestone with around 1.2x million residents registered as donors, only three in 1,000 people die in a way that makes donation possible. That’s why it’s so important to continue growing the donor registry and learning about options for living donation. A recent step forward came on July 1, 2024, when Mississippi passed HB 1213, the Living Donor Protection Act, which prevents insurers from discriminating against living donors—helping remove a barrier and encouraging more people to consider giving the gift of life.
