The Center for Organ Recovery & Education in the USA honored about 2,100 donor family members in May this year. The eighth annual ceremony was held at its headquarters in Pittsburgh followed by a reception.

According to Patricia KailKornick, a center spokeswomen, last year organ donations increased 26% over the previous year. Of some 67,000 people nationwide awaiting transplantation, about 45,000 await kidneys, about 15,000 await livers and about 10,000 await hearts.

During the reception, pictures of the family members loved ones were projected onto a large screen. Some people were overcome at seeing the smiling faces of their fathers and sons, mothers and daughter, sisters and brothers. The song “Tears from Heaven”, which singer Eric Clapton wrote after the death of his son, sounded from loud speakers. Carol Goulet who lost her 20 year old son in a car accident said, “I think about it every single day, of course. Today kind of eased the pain, to see other people go through the same thing, but it gives you a better look at life to know life can go on with (his) donation.”