Illinois is one of the few states left that does not allow teenagers under the age of 18 to become organ donors, but thankfully, change might be on the horizon. On Feb. 2, Secretary Jesse White approved of a bill proposed by Illinois Sen. Mattie Hunter and Illinois Rep. Deb Conroy that would grant 16- and 17-year-olds the right to become organ donors, but the decision could still be overturned by a parent or guardian, according to a Feb. 7 WQAD8 report.

There are 119,000 people on the national transplant waiting list, while every ten minutes, another person joins the list, according to an organdonor.gov survey. One person can donate up to eight life-saving organs, which in turn could help eight different people. Only three out of 1,000 people die in a way in which their organs can be donated; the demand is high, but the body count for donors is low.

Everyone should become a donor. When someone dies, they do not need their organs, so there is no point in keeping them when they can go to someone in desperate need. Humanity needs to be more selfless, especially when it comes to things they don’t need.

Junior nursing major Jade Bottoms is interested in becoming a donor. As a person who isn’t a donor yet, she has made up her mind on what’s important.

“I am not currently an organ donor, but I want to become an organ donor,” Bottoms said. “My family isn’t totally OK with myself becoming one, but since they are my organs, they support my decision to become one. I don’t need my organs once I pass away, so why not give them to someone who needs them for a second chance at life? No matter the age, people should be educated on what it is all about.”

As of Sept. 1, more than 130 million people over the age of 18 had registered as organ donors — that is 51 percent of all U.S. adults, according to an organdonor.gov survey. If the organ donor registry does open to 16- and 17-year-olds, the numbers will rise significantly.

Ellen Cameron, registered nurse at Edward Hospital, 801 S. Washington St., in Naperville, has seen organ donation firsthand.

“I think the organ donation age should be lowered to 16,” Cameron said. “If you are able to drive and operate a car, you should be able to make your own decision about organ donation. I also think that when you are 16, you are mentally capable to make a decision like that for your own body. Organ donation is a really great thing. I have seen lives utterly change because of it. It saves so many lives. More people should be able to do it.”

People die every day waiting for a transplant that never comes, 22 people to be exact, according to organdonor.gov statistics.

People die even though they could’ve been saved, and by opening up the age for transplant, more people will have the opportunity to live. They will have hope again. Become an organ donor and save lives. I couldn’t think of a better way for my legacy to live on.