World Organ Donation Day
August 13 · Level 4 · #1362 of 2238
A day to talk about how one person can save or greatly improve the lives of several others. It encourages people to learn about transplantation and think about becoming a donor.
How it is celebrated: hospitals and health organisations run awareness campaigns, talks and meetings with transplant recipients. In many places donor families are thanked, and people are urged to share their wishes with their relatives in advance.
The first successful kidney transplant took place in Boston in December 1954, when surgeon Joseph Murray transplanted a kidney between identical twins.