Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman has proclaimed April as a month to increase awareness of organ and tissue donations.

The governor said Wednesday that more than 450 Nebraskans are currently on a donation waiting list. Last year, 261 Nebraskans received live-saving organ transplants.

Heineman made the announcement alongside Nebraska Chief Medical

Officer Dr. Joann Schaefer, Department of Motor Vehicles Director Beverly Neth, and Lisa Carmichael, vice president of Donate Life
Nebraska.

Schaefer received a liver transplant from a living donor in 2008, and Neth has twice received living kidney donations from relatives.

Carmichael says each person who signs up as a donor can save eight lives through organ donations, restore sight to two people through cornea donations, and improve the health of up to 50 others through tissue donation.