Florida Senate - 2017                                    SR 1836
       
       
        
       By Senator Mayfield
       
       
       
       
       
       17-03437-17                                           20171836__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution recognizing May 13, 2017, as “Living
    3         Kidney Donors Day” in Florida and commending the
    4         heroic Floridians who have selflessly saved lives by
    5         donating a kidney as a living kidney donor.
    6  
    7         WHEREAS, 4,458 dialysis patients in Florida and 97,913
    8  kidney patients nationwide are waiting for a kidney transplant,
    9  and
   10         WHEREAS, 400 Floridians and 4,732 persons nationwide die
   11  each year while waiting for a kidney transplant, and
   12         WHEREAS, 200 Floridians are removed from the waiting list
   13  each year due to advanced illness caused by the life-threatening
   14  wait for a deceased donor’s kidney, and
   15         WHEREAS, this year, approximately 400 Floridians will
   16  receive a transplant, but more than 800 new names are expected
   17  to be added to the waiting list, and
   18         WHEREAS, our nation’s organ shortage dictates the ill-fated
   19  destiny of these kidney patients, and their only hope of
   20  survival lies in reaching the top of the list before it is too
   21  late, and
   22         WHEREAS, living kidney donation (LKD) can end this life
   23  threatening wait, and
   24         WHEREAS, most healthy people do not realize that they can
   25  impact someone’s life by donating one of their two kidneys to a
   26  person in need, and
   27         WHEREAS, although a living donor needs to be healthy enough
   28  to qualify for LKD, he or she does not have to be blood-related
   29  to, or even blood-type compatible with, the recipient, and
   30         WHEREAS, the majority of those who donate go on to live
   31  full, healthy, and vibrant lives, and
   32         WHEREAS, to date, living kidney donors have successfully
   33  improved outcomes for more than 139,000 kidney transplant
   34  recipients, and
   35         WHEREAS, the National Kidney Foundation of Florida is
   36  committed to increasing awareness by recognizing living kidney
   37  donors who give kidney patients hope for a better tomorrow, and
   38         WHEREAS, while LKD is not for everyone and there are risks,
   39  those who participate lead the way in this remarkable life
   40  saving opportunity, and
   41         WHEREAS, LKD is currently the best and most cost-effective
   42  treatment for end-stage renal disease, NOW, THEREFORE,
   43  
   44  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   45  
   46         That May 13, 2017, is recognized as “Living Kidney Donors
   47  Day” in Florida and that the Senate commends the heroic
   48  Floridians who have selflessly donated a kidney and shared and
   49  saved lives as living kidney donors.