Gov. Dave Heineman launched Nebraska observance of April as Donate Life Month Wednesday.

Donate Life Month is part of a National observance to increase awareness for lifesaving organ and tissue donations.

The Governor was joined by Dr. Joann Schaefer, Chief Medical Officer, Beverly Neth, Director of Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles and Vickie Ahlers, Chairman of the board of Directors for the Nebraska Organ and Tissue Donor Coalition.

Dr. Joann Schaefer and Beverly Neth are both recipients of organ donations and be live that the families and donors are real life hero's.

"As a two time kidney transplant recipient from living donors. I know what the gift of life means to people who donate organs and the families that support that decision are without reservation heroes." said Neth.

"Now I did not have to be so critical ill and on my death bed to get a organ transplant but there are a lot of people out there that are very very much suffering and are very near death and to be able give somebody the gift of life and to change their life is amazing" said Schaefer

This year the Nebraska Donor Registry increase to 705,378 surpassing the goal of 700,00 set two years ago by the Nebraska organ tissue Donor Coalition. To see the press conference in it's entirety hit the video link.