Hartford Hospital Urges Donor Sign-Ups During Donate Life Month As 108,000 Await Transplants; 13 Lost Daily

Hartford HealthCare Hosts Westfarms Event To Boost Organ Donation During Donate Life Month

USA: Hartford HealthCare will host a free public event next week at Westfarms Mall as part of April’s Donate Life Month to raise awareness about organ donation and transplantation. Living-donor transplant coordinators from Hartford HealthCare will be on site to answer questions and explain both deceased and living donation paths, including kidney transplantation.

Nationwide more than 108,000 people remain on transplant waiting lists, and more than 1,000 of those candidates are in Connecticut. Because of the persistent organ shortage, wait times can stretch for several years; on average about 13 people die each day while waiting for a lifesaving transplant.

Coordinators are focused on dispelling common myths that deter potential donors. Medical teams prioritize saving patients’ lives and do not base care decisions on donor registrations, and many healthy people can consider becoming living kidney donors without expected reductions in life quality or longevity. The event aims to provide clear, medically accurate information about donor evaluation, surgical risks, and post-donation recovery.

Those interested in registering as organ donors or learning more about living donation are encouraged to consult the Connecticut donor registry and Hartford Hospital’s living-donation program, or to call Hartford HealthCare to speak directly with a transplant coordinator. The Westfarms event will offer counseling, resources, and an opportunity for the public to ask clinicians and coordinators practical questions about the transplantation process.

Video originally published on 2026-04-01 10:44:04