When a loved one needs a potentially life-saving transplant, the wait can feel never-ending. It's a heart-wrenching time for family members, who may feel powerless as they must simply sit by.

Ohio resident Andrew Mullins knows that feeling well.

"My grandfather received a heart transplant in 1987," he said. "I understand what a family goes through when a loved one is waiting for that lifesaving gift, and what that second chance at life means."

Mullins is the chief executive officer for Lifeline of Ohio, a nonprofit organization that promotes and coordinates the donation of human organs and tissue for transplantation, helping to save and heal lives in Ohio and beyond.

"Organ donation provides the only hope of survival for Ohioans waiting for a transplant — and you can help make a difference," Mullins said.

Before Mullins was named CEO earlier this year, he spent decades of his career involved in the field of donation and transplantation, crediting his grandfather's experience with igniting his interest.

"I have a very personal understanding of the difference organ donation can make to those waiting, and I'm inspired every day by the incredible generosity of the selfless donors and their families who leave a lifesaving legacy through the gift of donation," Mullins said in a news release.

That understanding is why Mullins hopes people throughout Ohio will take part in upcoming awareness event Don't Wait, Save 8, "a call to everyone across Ohio to save up to eight lives by registering to be an organ, eye and tissue donor online," Mullins said.

The event is organized by Donate Life Ohio, a coalition of the state's organ, eye, and tissue recovery agencies, including Lifeline of Ohio, Lifebanc, Life Connection of Ohio, LifeCenter, Central Ohio Lion's Eye Bank, Cincinnati Eye Bank, Community Tissue Services, Eversight, Lions Eye Bank of West Central Ohio, and the Minority Organ and Tissue Transplant Education Program. These organizations have joined together to educate people about the Ohio Donor Registry.

"If someone you loved was waiting for an organ transplant, would you encourage others to be a donor?" Mullins said. "Right now, there are more than 3,000 Ohioans — and more than 105,000 people nationwide — waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. Their only hope of survival is through the generous gift of an organ donor."

The reason the event calls for people to "Save 8" is because a single person can make a huge difference.

"One person can save up to eight lives through organ donation and heal more than 75 people through tissue donation," Mullins said. "And that one person could be you."

The simple process of registering as an organ donor involves filling out a form at registerme.org/dontwait. And the result could mean everything to people like Mullins' family.

"The need for donated organs, corneas and tissues is growing at a much greater rate than their availability," according to Lifeline of Ohio. "And while transplantation is now considered a standard medical treatment for a wide variety of conditions, it is important to remember that without an individual saying 'yes' to donation, transplants are not possible."

If anyone is hesitant about donating, it may be because of mistaken ideas about what happens when people agree to be organ donors.

"Misconceptions often prevent people from registering to be organ donors," Mullins said. "The truth is, registering to be a donor will never stop a medical team from saving your life, anyone of any age can register, and donation is possible even if you have a serious medical condition."

If you'd like to consider making a donation, click here.