Driven to donate gift of life

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Norm Almanson (left), an
organ donation recipient, and Rob Holley, the deputy registrar for the BMV of Ohio, share a laugh after
the award ceremony at the BMV in Bowling Green. (Photo: Shane Hughes/Sentinel-Tribune)

It’s a question everyone is asked when going to get an ID at their local Bureau of Motor Vehicles:
“Would you like to register as an organ and tissue donor?”
How they answer that question can save a life.
That fact was on display Wednesday as the Bowling Green BMV was presented with the Front Line Award from
Life Connection of Ohio on Wednesday. Five Ohio BMV agencies receive the award annually for their
efforts to grow the number of registered organ and tissue donors in the state.
This was the 11th consecutive year that the Bowling Green BMV has received the honor – a distinction
unprecedented in the state. In fact, the BG office has won 12 of the last 13 years – only a win by the
Perrysburg BMV office in 2002 broke their streak.
“I’m getting the award, but I’m not asking the question,” said Rob Holley, the head of the BG office.
“It’s my staff.”
He noted that more and more people seem to be paying attention to the issue of organ donation – some,
Holley said, come back to the office and change an initial “no” answer to “yes” after thinking about it
and sometimes consulting their spiritual advisors.
“I think it’s starting to get a little more exposure,” he said.
“It rings home.”
Pemberville resident Carol Kominek received a liver transplant 14 years ago and was present at the event.

“I just want to say thank you to all the donors,” she said. “When you sign up, you save lives like mine.”

“I get to see my grandkids grow up,” Kominek said later.
Norm Almanson, Bowling Green, is also a 14-year transplant recipient, receiving a pancreas and kidney in
2000, and another kidney in 2003. He noted that the organ donor program “helped to give a lot of people
a second chance at life.”
“I feel really good,” he said.
According to information from Life Connection, the Bowling Green BMV has a consent rate of 67.33 percent
of people receiving or renewing their drivers’ licenses or state IDs who agreed to register as an organ
or tissue donor.
The office is situated in District 4, which is comprised of 29 counties and 37 BMV agencies in the state.

The Perrysburg BMV had the second highest percentage in the district, with 65.89 percent. The Norwalk
agency was third with 63.93 percent.

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