A tribute will be paid this week to the people who gave the “Gift of Life” to others through organ and tissue donation.

Sunday commenced the 17th Annual National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week (NOTDAW), which honors families of organ donors throughout the state with tree planting ceremonies, recognition dinners, receptions and health fairs.

Tom Jorgensen, Iowa Donor Network (IDN) executive committee member, said the week was designed to promote public awareness of organ donation.

He said currently there are more than 60,000 people nationwide waiting for donations.

IDN is part of a national service that helps all Iowa hospitals by coordinating organ and tissue donations.

Jorgensen, a retired Ames High School teacher and coach, received a liver transplant several years ago.

“I had 12 hours to live,” Jorgensen said. After a successful transplant operation, Jorgensen said he was able to live a normal life again as a husband and a teacher.

Both Jorgensen and IDN Executive Director Suzanne Conrad stressed that people who wish to donate their organs should convey their wishes to family members to make the decision less painful.

Jorgensen said the family discussion should ideally take place at a time when death is not imminent.

“[Donation] is the only thing that makes sense,” Jorgensen said. He said one donor could give new life to five or six people.

While Jorgensen and IDN continue to raise awareness through programs and in schools throughout the state, he said he would like donor families to become even more involved.

“[We] need donor families to speak out about how it has changed their lives,” he said.

Jorgensen said giving the gift of life is the most important legacy people could leave.

“How are you going to be remembered? What greater legacy to leave?” he said.

Jorgensen said he and IDN have become more familiar with donor families, and NOTDAW events will honor the donors and their families.

IDN’s ninth tree planting ceremony was held in the Dubuque Arboretum Sunday at 2 p.m.

Other events are scheduled throughout the week, including a health fair on Tuesday at Ames City Hall from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Conrad said Gov. Tom Vilsack will be signing a proclamation Thursday morning declaring April Tissue and Donor Month. Members of the state and national transplant community have been invited to attend.

Information on NOTDAW and IDN is available in hospitals throughout the state, including Mary Greeley Medical Center, 111 Duff Ave.