(WTVM) -
GMA's Robin Roberts recently returned 174 days after she was forced to leave the anchor desk, following a grueling procedure involving a bone marrow transplant.
It was all due to MDS or pre-leukemia diagnosis. Robin was fortunate enough to have her sister volunteer to be a donor, but not everyone is as lucky when it comes to organ donations.
More than 117,000 people are waiting for an organ; 18 people will die each day waiting for one. One organ donor can save up to eight lives and the generosity can enhance dozens more through tissue and eye donation.
Officials say having a donor indication on your license is a start but always make sure to let your family know your final wishes and include it in your will.
Last year alone, organ donors made more than 28,000 transplants possible. Another one million people received cornea and other tissue transplants that helped them recover from trauma, bone damage, spinal injuries, burns, hearing impairment and vision loss.
Organdonor.gov is a national, government site with information on how and why you should donate.
Unfortunately, thousands die every year waiting for a donor organ that never comes. You have the power to change that.
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