DES MOINES, Iowa — Currently, over 600 Iowans are waiting for an organ transplant.
Feb. 14 is National Donor Day, an observance dedicated to spreading awareness and education about organ, eye and tissue donation.
It's also a day to honor organ donors, like Stanley Allen.
His widow, Patricia Allen, remembers the day they met as if it were yesterday.
"He had a smile that could just light up the room when he walked in," Allen said. "And he stood up and looked over my direction and smiled and I thought 'Woo, that's it.'"
Two years after they met, Patricia and Stan were married, with Patricia saying her husband’s life was a full one, from his love of motorcycles and his dogs to his family and friends.
"He loved life, he loved people, he was the best listener."
Tragically in February 2022, just a few months after retiring, Stan suddenly died. To no one's surprise, he was a registered organ donor.
"The nurses asked me about him being an organ donor, and I said 'Oh, yeah,' he was a giver in life, he would give anybody anything they needed in life if he had it,” Patricia said.
His kidneys were a match for two people on the donor list.
"Right now, there's over 100,000 people nationwide waiting for a life-saving organ transplant, including over 600 right here in Iowa," said Heather Butterfield, Director of Strategic Communications for the Iowa Donor Network.
The organization helps facilitate organ and tissue recovery and provides support for both organ-receiving and organ donor families.
"When you are gone and you no longer need it, organ and tissue donation is a way to live on and create a legacy, by saving the life of someone else that needs it,” Butterfield said.
Allen said while the pain of losing her husband will never go away, knowing someone else’s loved ones get to live brings her some peace.
"Who knows what wonderful adventures they have had the last two years because of Stan's gift,” she said. "It means a lot to know that even though my husband can't be here any longer, people are able to still enjoy the sun, and be here."
To register to be an organ donor, you can register when you apply for or renew your Iowa ID or driver's license or fill out a donor registration form at iowadonornetwork.org.