One year ago, a Washoe County Deputy's two-year-old daughter got a second chance at life, when she received a kidney implant. The Washoe County Sheriff's Office is commemorating this moment, by giving people people a second chance on their traffic tickets over the next 7 days, in hopes of inspiring them to become organ donors.
Reagan Tone is three-years-old. An organ donor's decision helped her get to where she is today. "When she was born, she was born with renal failure. Immediately at 4-days-old she got her first major surgery. She went into dialysis at 4-days-old. Eventually we were able to bring her home and we were able to give her dialysis at home in her crib," said Deputy Nick Tone who is Reagan's father.
When she was two, she received a kidney implant and a bone implant on her hip. Now she's starting to enjoy life like every other kid. "She runs around with every other kid her age running, jumping, and kicking balls," said Deputy Tone.
The Washoe County Sheriff's Office is both celebrating her success, and trying to inspire others to be like the organ donor who saved her life. "If it's indicated on the drivers license or through the conversation that they would want to be an organ donor, we are going to thank them. Instead of a ticket we are going to give them a Second Chance certificate that says we are going to give them a second chance because they are going to give someone a second chance on life by becoming an organ donor," said Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam.
Minor infractions like speeding under 10 miles-an-hour, not using a turn signal, following too close, or rolling through a stop sign will get a certificate instead of a ticket. " 85% to 90% of people agree with organ donation. Unfortunately there is a very small percent of that percent that actually put it on their driver's license," said Sheriff Balaam.
The hope is that the campaign will bring awareness to organ donation and inspire others to become donors, thereby saving lives. "One organ donor can save up to 8 lives and one tissue donor can enhance 75 lives," said Donor Network West Regional Director Nicole Bishop. "Being a good advocate and telling everyone I know her story, will hopefully save other lives," said Deputy Tone.
People can go to the DMV and register to be an organ donor on their driver's license. They can also register to be an organ donor on Donor Network West's website.
