According to Tennessee Donor Services, there are currently more than 100,000 men, women and children on the national transplant list—3,000 of which are in Tennessee.  

Donna Orr of Shelbyville still remains involved in garnering local support for organ donation, though her husband, David, passed back in 2015.  

Mayor Chad Graham signed the 2022 proclamation recently in honor of April being Organ Donation Month.  

All branches of First Community Bank can accept donations for the David Orr Donate Life account. Donna said she’ll never regret her decision to be this county’s ambassador.  

“Although our loved ones have passed on, their missions still remain—a personal goal to carry forward, which I try to do in honor of David and his visions.”  

David was the recipient of the Good Conduct Medal, Marine Corp Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Combat Service Medal.  

But more pertinent to this cause was that he twice received a double lung transplant, and was very involved in the promotion of organ donation, along with his family.  

The beat goes on  

Donna continues to help those awaiting an organ or tissue donation.  

As ambassador, she currently serves Bedford County and is willing to help anyone needing information on organ donation.  

“There is NO cost to check the box while renewing your tags, or taking your drivers license. It mainly wants your legal decision made public on your recorded valid ID , if such a time of fatality should arise , so that proper personal as state troopers, firemen, EMT, can be informed and act accordingly and swiftly.”

Donna explains that the heart on one’s license identifies that decision. That’s why it’s very important in talking with one’s family, she said, about each individual’s decision in giving the gift of life.  

Schools can participate  

Donna notes that donations to the David Orr scholarship remain important to Bedford County schools. Scholarship presentations are coming up in May at Shelbyville Central and Cascade High Schools. 

 COVID certainly hurt those scholarship donations, she revealed. But she has hope that this year will be much better.  

Goals for 2022  

No doubt that the last couple years have been difficult for nonprofits like the organ donation program. But there’s always time to get involved, Donna advised.  

The Be The Gift Tennessee challenges continue in 2022 with the goal of adding 115,00 new registrations to the Tennessee Donor registry, according to Tennessee Donor Services. Go to BeTheGiftToday.com to learn more about this program and how to get involved.  

Tennessee Donor Services reveals that the most important aspect of being involved in such a program is that every donor can potentially save up to 8 lives and enhance more than 75 lives with tissue donation. 

“To me, that’s selfless giving . . . life,” said Donna with tears in her eyes.