More than 500 new organ donor names have been added to the "Celebration of Life" monument at the Salt Lake's Library Square, recognizing those who have saved others from disability or death.
"We're the first city to have such a monument," Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson said at the second annual organ donor commemoration event at the Salt Lake City and County Building Friday night.
He also said Utah has more potential donors per capita registered on an online organ donor registry than any other state in the nation.
"We urge everyone, if you are able and willing, to be a donor." he said. "The gift of life is the greatest gift of all."
Jamie Newman of Salt Lake City donated a kidney to Maria Silonis of Salt Lake earlier this year.
She said she's often asked why she did it, since she only met Silonis an hour before the surgery.
"Why would I not want to do something like that?" she responds. "I'm really grateful I had this awesome experience."
She also said she has never been aware one of her kidneys is gone and doesn't feel any different.
Silonis said her quality of life was greatly diminished before receiving the kidney. For example, she could not swim or eat chocolate.
"Instead of just living, I'm able to live," she said.
"These are true Utah heroes," said David Nemelka of Mapleton, the founder of Quest for the Gift of Life.
Utah was the first state to establish a formal "Good Samaritan" living donation program, according to Nemelka. Other states are now looking to Utah as a model.
Kidneys make up 60 percent of the donor waiting list. Since 2002, 18 Utahns have stepped forward to donate a kidney to a stranger — including Newman — while many more have done so for relatives or friends.
"Ongoing education and awareness are the keys to making support of organ donation a part of the moral values, and social consciousness of today's society, similar to blood donation," Nemelka said.
Anderson also led a candlelight vigil Friday night — more than 300 people strong — from the City and County Building to the monument.
He said anyone knowing of names missing from the honor wall should let organ donation officials know, so everyone participating can be added.
There are now more than 2,500 names on the glass walls of the monument, located in the southeast corner of Library Square, near 500 S. 300 East. The list of donors is updated twice a year. The monument was dedicated in May 2004. It includes two glass "walls of honor," plus a water fountain and life-size bronze statues.
More information on organ donations is available on-line at: www.yesutah.org.
E-mail: lynn@desnews.com