Donate Life Month: Palmer mom of 2 donates placenta for organ donation

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - April is National Donate Life Month, and according to Life Alaska Donor Services, the state’s tissue and eye bank, there is an ongoing need for more donors.

Over 100,000 people in the United States are on the organ transplant waitlist, according to Life Alaska, and over 150 of them are Alaskans.

“We really want to make sure that people recognize that it is a local issue,” Stephanie Hill, the CEO and President of Life Alaska Donor Services, said. “Countless Alaskan patients will receive life-changing tissue and eye transplants, as well, every year. So, it’s a really good thing for your neighbor and help another Alaskan out.”

Since 2003, according to Hill, April has been recognized as National Donate Life Month.

She said April is used to spread awareness about the need for organ, eye, and tissue donations. In addition, Hill said, it is a time to celebrate donors, encourage people to sign up, and educate people on the donation process, including what a living donation is.

“Living donation can be, for example, living kidney donation. People can donate one of their kidneys to another person,” Hill said. “Also, Life Alaska has a birth tissue program where expectant mothers can call one of our donation coordinators and facilitate the donation of their placenta after the birth of their brand new baby.”

Typically, Hill said, the placenta is thrown out as medical waste. However, when donated, she said the tissue can be used to help heal wounds. The tissue can be used for eye surgery, ulcers, and burn wounds.

“It is such a revolutionary tissue. It is regenerative and there is nothing else like it,” Hill said.

It’s a process that Meghan Barnett did with both of her pregnancies.

“Usually, to be an organ donor, you’re not alive anymore,” Barnett said. “It’s kind of cool to know that I got a chance to help out people.”

Barnett told Alaska’s News Source that she was pregnant with her oldest and working at the time for Life Alaska when she first learned she could donate her placenta. The decision to donate, she said, did not come with a second thought.

“I grew a whole organ, you know, along with a baby. And so, why not put it to good use?” Barnett said. “If you don’t have prior plans for it, I’d say absolutely go for it.”

Barnett, who had C-sections for both of her pregnancies, said there were no additional steps she had to do when giving birth. She recommends that people do their research before deciding to donate.

“I would tell them to do some research. Look into the uses for it,” Barnett said. “Talk with your partner and just decide what you want to do with this organ you created.”

When it comes to all organs, Hill said about 200 Alaskans every year become either a living or a deceased donor. Right now, there are over 600,000 donors registered in Alaska, she said.

“It’s so far-reaching, one person can make such an impact in so many people’s lives,” Hill said.

People can register to be an organ donor online, at the DMV, or visit Life Alaska Donor Services.

See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to web@ktuu.com

Copyright 2025 KTUU. All rights reserved.