BRYANT, Ark. — It’s become easier and quicker to become an organ donor in Arkansas.
The non-profit organization Arkansas Regional Organ Recovery Agency works to restore lives through organ and tissue donation.
It’s launched 15 donor registration swipe technology kiosks across the state.
The most recent one can be found at the Bishop Center in Bryant.
“My daughter, Melissa, was a single mom. She would be so proud to see that they are doing this, doing something,” said Paul Owen.
Owen lost his daughter in 2014 after she suffered a brain aneurysm.
But at 16, she made a decision to become an organ donor. It's a decision Owen never believed would lead his family where they are today.
"Little did we know, 22 years later, she would be called on for that service,” said Owen.
Melissa's heart became Yolanda Harshaw's.
The donation of Melissa's heart made it so that Harshaw, also a single mom, could live to raise her children.
“Through Yolanda, we can still see Melissa here with us,” said Owen.
Since his daughter's death, Owen has become an organ donor advocate through ARORA.
He hopes to inspire others to give. And with the new kiosks, it’s become a lot faster.
"It's a really neat kiosk,” said Allen Scoot, Bryant Mayor.
Scott said he chose to connect with ARORA because he saw the need to help make it easy for people to register.
"How often is it that you renew your license? Every eight years or so? With that, it seems we are losing some people as potential donors,” said Scott.
To become registered at a donor registration swipe kiosk, all you need is your driver’s license. The process takes only eight seconds.
"You just come on over, scan your license, and you've got it done,” said Scott.
According to ARORA, one donor has the potential to save up to eight lives.
There are more than 114,000 Americans waiting for an organ transplant, and 300 Arkansans are on the list.
Each day, 22 people nation-wide die waiting on their transplant.
Although Owen faced tragedy with his daughter's sudden passing, he’s been able to find hope, knowing his daughter gave the gift of life to another young mom.
"Only 1% of us who register will ever be called upon for that service, but it still makes that pool larger for everyone,” said Owen.
If you decide to become a registered donor in Arkansas, you also become registered as an organ, cornea, and tissue donor on the national donor registry list.
You can head to www.arora.org for information on how to become a registered donor and for kiosk locations.