Heather Menzer never knew the importance of organ and tissue donors until she injured her knee in 2004.
Menzer, an athlete, was told she needed two tissue transplants if she wanted to continue playing sports.
"People don't think about the impact and significance of tissue donation, but they are important," she said. "And they affect a lot of people."
Menzer said people know organ donations can save lives but don't know the importance of tissue donation.
"When you sign up for organ donation, you sign up for both," she said. "I used a tissue donation to repair a knee injury and also a bone. These are what I would call life-enhancing as opposed to life-saving."
She now works with New Mexico Donor Services to encourage people to become organ and tissue donors.
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About 50 percent of New Mexicans are registered donors.
Menzer, who was recently crowned Miss Rio Rancho 2008, said she made tissue donation her platform during her race for the title.
"One of the biggest things, as far as my experience goes, is that tissue donation is important as well, and it should also be appreciated," she said. "You never know when you'll be on the other side of the situation."
Young people should be educated about the power of organ and tissue donations, said Maria Sanders, community service director for the organization.
"When they obtain their driver's license or ID card, many people will go to the motor vehicle department and don't know what to say because they haven't thought about it," she said.
Menzer said people should consider the benefits of organ and
tissue donation and how it can affect their loved ones.
"I encourage people to think about if one of their close family or friends was in need," she said. "Would they be supportive and encourage that their life be saved by a transplant?"
If a person in New Mexico wants to donate organs, his or her family cannot overturn the decision, Sanders said.
Gov. Bill Richardson in 2007 signed into law that 15-year-olds could register as organ donors without their parents' permission.
Sanders said many teenagers chose not to register as donors because their family didn't want them to.
She said she hopes young people in New Mexico will learn from Menzer's experience.
"She will help them realize that it can happen to anybody, and more people should register for organ donation," Sanders said.
Student Ashley Sandoval said she is a registered organ donor.
"It is something I just decided to do when I got my license," she said. "I just thought it would be a nice thing to do so I could help someone."
