Social media helps Arizona family save man’s life via organ donation

PHOENIX — The story of how social media helped an Arizona man get a much-needed organ transplant will be celebrated at Arizona’s National Blue and Green Day on Friday.

According to a press release, an Arizona’s woman Facebook post about the death of her brother caught the attention of a friend who knew a man awaiting a kidney transplant.

The Arizona Department of Transportation and Donor Network of Arizona are hosting the celebration to emphasize the importance of Arizonans becoming organ donors.

Thank you to all Arizona organ donors and their families for their selfless generosity during the month of March. #DonateLife pic.twitter.com/miblDRF1UW

— Donate Life Arizona (@DonateLifeAZ) April 9, 2017

The woman, Angie Lavalais, offered to donate her brother’s kidney because she knew he registered as an organ and tissue donor at ADOT’s Motor Vehicle Division.

Elan Edwards, the man needing the kidney, and Lavalais’ brother were a match, and he survived the transplant.

Donate Life America and its partnered organization created National Blue and Green Day in 2003 to express the need for registered donors and talk about the successes of organ transplants, according to its website.

National Blue and Green Day is only a small part of Donate Life’s initiative to promote registering as organ, eye and tissue donors.

The organization has chosen April as National Donate Life Month.

Are you ready to save and heal lives? National Donate Life Month starts today! #DonateLife #savelives pic.twitter.com/8OcheaIiSb

— Donate Life Arizona (@DonateLifeAZ) April 1, 2017