Every year in Canada, thousands of people wait for organ and tissue transplants. You can make the difference in some of those lives. Everyone has the potential to be an organ and tissue donor — generally, donors are healthy people of any age who have suffered an irreversible brain injury, as in a motor vehicle collision or a brain hemorrhage. Organs and tissues that can be donated include kidneys, heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, small bowel, corneas, bones and joints, skin and heart valves.

Here’s what you can do:

Transplant Manitoba and Tissue Bank Manitoba offer an online organ donation registry at signupforlife.ca. When you register your intent to be an organ and tissue donor, your decision is recorded in a Manitoba eHealth database. At the appropriate time, your donation decision will be shared with your family so they can honour your decision.

You are encouraged to use the online registry even if you carry a signed donor card. Information on a signed card is not recorded in a Manitoba eHealth database and so may not be available when needed.

It’s important that you discuss your wishes regarding organ and tissue donation with your family. Other people you may want to inform are your clergy and family doctor. A Living Will is another place where you can record your wishes.