HARRISBURG -Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at the steps of the Capitol this morning. They say that at the end of the day, this is all about saving lives. The bell tolls every 18 seconds to represent every person that dies every 18 hours waiting for a transplant.
"Just in the state of Pennsylvania, this is how many people are passing away for something that's such an easy fix." Said Marty Brown has been waiting for a transplant for the last 3 and a half years. "I was born with a congenital heart disease which ended up destroying the left side of my heart when I was about 20 years old. I've been on this pump for the last 3 and a half years which is doing all the work for the left side of my heart until I do get a transplant."
Bruce Edwards received new corneas years ago. His passion for being there comes not only from his new eyes. "I would say the passion comes more from my daughter's death than my cornea transplant."
Edwards lost his daughter in a car accident in 2008. She became a tissue donor. "When you talk to donor families, theres a comfort involved knowing there was some meaning gotten out of your loved one's loss."
These demonstrators want those on the fence about ticking the organ donor box to know that the common misconception that doctor's won't save your life is simply not true. Brown is adamant, "That's the main problem that people have and it's the most false one that's out there because the doctors are there to save your life no matter what."
They hope that "dying" on the steps of the capitol is graphic enough for representatives to pass House Bill 30, which updates the procedures for organ donor and organ recipients.
"20 years ago we were on the cutting edge, we were at the forefront, now were back in the pack, we haven't updated and it's very important that we do."