Donate Life Message From Lifebanc CEO
Katie Payne, CEO of Lifebanc, Northeast Ohio’s only nonprofit organ and tissue recovery organization, shares insights and her story for Donate Life Month.
CLEVELAND — April is recognized as National Donate Life Month — a time to honor the power to transform lives and the second chances made possible through the gift of donation.
Every day, 17 people in the United States die waiting for an organ transplant. Yet, a single donor can save up to eight lives and improve the quality of life for over 75 others through tissue donation. We all have the power to offer this second chance at life.
Organ donation is not just a medical act — it’s an act of compassion and legacy. The story of every organ recipient is one of hope renewed. Organ donation turns loss into life — giving parents more time to hold their child, and grandparents the chance to witness another family milestone.
In 2004, my life changed forever. My big brother, Billy, was just 25 years old when he died in a tragic car accident. In the midst of our grief, my family was offered the option of donation. At the time, I knew almost nothing about tissue donation. But I knew this immense heartbreak had the opportunity to help others. Through his gift, we hoped Billy’s donation would help restore health and mobility to countless people. We also hoped it would help us find peace in our loss. Billy’s donation forever changed my perspective on the power of giving. What I didn’t realize at the time was that this moment would eventually shape my career and my purpose.
Today, I am honored to serve as the CEO of Lifebanc, the organ procurement organization serving Northeast Ohio. Every day, I see the incredible impact of donation, not only for recipients but for donor families like mine. I know firsthand that, while loss never fades, there is comfort in knowing that a loved one’s generosity can change lives. Billy’s story, my family’s story, is one of hope. Through him, I found my calling. To advocate for donation, to support donor families, and to ensure that every life-saving and healing gift is honored.
Yet, despite the life-saving impact, the gap between need and availability persists. Over 100,000 people are currently on the national transplant waiting list. Misinformation, misconceptions, and lack of awareness prevent many from registering. Some believe their age or health disqualifies them, when in fact, most people — even those with certain health conditions — can be donors. The priority of every medical team is to save lives — being an organ donor never alters that commitment
This month, we have an opportunity to break down these barriers. It starts with education. By having open conversations with our families and sharing our wishes, we normalize organ donation as a life-affirming choice. By encouraging friends and colleagues to register, we multiply the ripple effect of compassion.
Registering as an organ donor takes minutes but can offer decades of life to someone in need. You can register online at lifebanc.org or organdonor.gov or through your local Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles office. During National Donate Life Month, let’s honor the courage of donors and their families, celebrate the resilience of recipients, and pledge to be part of the solution. Together, we can turn loss into hope, and grief into life.
