West Virginia’s Donor Day: Education and encouragement in the field of organ donation

GLEN DANIEL, WV (WVNS) — The word “donor” can bring to mind a lot – the little red heart on your driver’s license, your loved one in pain and waiting for something that could save their life, or even the smile of a child given a new lease on life thanks to someone else’s selfless donation.

There are more than 500 West Virginians on the organ transplant waiting list.

That is why the Center for Organ Recovery and Education, or CORE for short, had people out and about asking folks to register as donors.

CORE reports that just one individual registering as an organ donor could potentially save the lives of eight people on the waiting list.

Shawna Cafarelli and her son, Max, know first-hand all about the importance of these donations.

“My dad passed in 2021 due to a brain bleed in Washington State and he donated five organs which went out within 24 hours to save five people who were on organ donation lists,” said Cafarelli.

Cafarelli said that her father, Arthur Joseph Cafarelli, inspired her decision to register as an organ donor.

One of the myths surrounding organ donation is that someone can be too old to donate their organs. However, officials with CORE said that myth is untrue.

Johnny Hatfield, a newly registered organ donor, agreed.

“I’m 64 years old right now. I don’t know what part of me they can use, but if they can use anything go for it,” said Hatfield.

Hatfield said if he can help someone with the donation of one of his organs, he will be happy.

Of course, there is sadness surrounding the subject of organ donation too, especially from the family of the organ donor.

But Cheryl King, a West Virginia Community Outreach Coordinator with CORE, said selfless donations like these can also help the surviving family members find closure.

“It gives the family of the donor a lot of peace that their loved one was able to live on in some way on this Earth, and a lot of people consider it as the one last gift that they’re able to give to someone else,” said King.

CORE encourages people to educate themselves about organ donation and really consider the benefits of giving that one final gift to someone in need.

To find out more about organ donation or to register as a new donor, please visit CORE’s website .

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