Lawmakers push organ donation

North Carolina has more than 4 million registered organ donors, making it the sixth-largest donor registry in the U.S., officials said.

"Anytime a group of 10 people get together, at least one of them will be touched by organ donation," said Rep. Dale Folwell, R-Forsyth.

North Carolina has about 3,500 people on waiting lists for needed organs, according to Carolina Donor Services, and the list keeps growing. Each day, about 18 people die nationwide while awaiting a transplant, officials said.