Hooters Waitress and Senator Urge New Yorkers to Become Organ Donors

At Manhattan's 33rd St. Hooters New York State Senator Jose Peralta and advocates with the organization LiveOnNY gathered to unviel legislation that aims to increase the number of organ donors in the state. 
 
Hooter's waitress Mariana Villarreal also joined. Earlier this year she donated her kidney to a restaurant patron with diabetes. Her story, which went viral, inspired Senator Peralta to look into organ donation in New York. What he descovered shocked him: New York is dead last in the country for donor's per capita. 
 
According to LiveOnNY, the organization with which Peralta has partnered to promote the bill, only 25% of New Yorkers are organ donors compared to 50% nationwide.
 
"Lets save lives, lets register to be organ donors, there's nothing to fear and everything to gain for people on waiting lists," said Peralta.
 
Mariana Villarreal said it was satisfying to help someone in need. And that the surgery only came with some minor changes.
 
Villarreal lamented, "I used to like coffee but once I go my kidney removed I don't like it anymore. But now he likes coffee!"
 
Senator Peralta's bill would require more state documents like college applications and tax forms to include space for New Yorkers to register as organ donors. 
 

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