Plaques honoring organ donors and recipients help encourage Utahns to say ‘yes’
Sep 2, 2024, 5:00 PM
Elroy "Woody" Salt looks at a plaque in his honor installed at the Blanding Driver License Division on Aug. 21. (Donor Connect)
(Donor Connect)
BLANDING, Utah — A new year heart Elroy “Woody” Salt received in 2016 at the University of Utah Hospital helped him not miss out on the good things.
“I was able to go to my grandkids’ graduation, live a longer life and have a happy life,” he said.
Salt encouraged Utahns to think about organ donation at a recent event unveiling a plaque dedicated to him.
“I’m blessed and happy that my new heart was available when I needed it. Every day is a gift, a blessing, and a miracle. I live in gratitude for my donor and honor them by living my life to the fullest,” he said.
Donor Connect said Salt’s is the 11th of several tribute plaques that will be installed in driver license division locations throughout Utah honoring members of the “transplant community.” The hope is that the plaques will encourage awareness for organ donation and inspire Utahns to mark “yes” to organ donation.
Salt grew up on the Navajo Reservation and served in the U.S. Navy. He was in good physical shape when he had a heart attack at 47.
“I went from working construction to being placed on the transplant waitlist, in need of a new heart, all within a few months,” he said.
