This past week, the Daily Times brought you the story of Kristina Fisher of Franklin Furnace, who went through a successful liver transplant in June. She had been diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver in February 2008 and was added to the transplant list several months later.

Fisher said she didn’t have a clue about her condition.

“When you have cirrhosis it’s either from being an alcoholic or doing drugs, and I do neither, so it was completely by surprise,” she said.

The cause for Fisher was unknown. Her trips to the hospital increased, and her condition worsened.

A matching liver was located for her in June, but her surgeon refused it because it wouldn’t have been a fit. It had taken about a year to find a match, and doctor’s weren’t sure she could wait another year. Thankfully, she didn’t have to.

“The Lord was shining on me that day because within 24 hours they had another possible liver for me and that's the one I actually ended up with,” she said.

Fisher celebrated her first Christmas last week since her life-saving transplant, which brings us to this statistic. Right now, more than 105,000 Americans are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. Sadly, not enough people say “yes” to give the “Gift of Life” through organ and tissue donation. While 90 percent of Ohioans support donation in theory, only half register their decision to be a donor. Myths, such as the fear that emergency room doctors will “let you go” if you’re a donor, or misconceptions, such as worrying that donation will change funeral plans, prevent people from registering as donors and saving lives, according to Kent Holloway, chief executive officer of Lifeline of Ohio.

“You have the power to give the ultimate gift this holiday season, the ‘Gift of Life,’” Holloway said. “By registering in the Ohio Donor Registry, you have the potential to save eight lives through organ donation and enhance 50 lives through tissue donation after your death.”

Anyone interested in donating, may register at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, online at www.lifelineofohio.or, or request a paper brochure at (800) 525-5667.