This week, tragedy struck one family on an Oak Island vacation. Lee Dingle, from Raleigh, was playing in the ocean with some of his six children, when a freak accident occurred: a wave crashed into him, slammed his head into the sand, breaking his neck.

In seconds, life became death. But Dingle’s death, unlike many others, will bring life, as the 37-year-old will donate his organs.

One person can donate up to eight lifesaving organs: heart, two lungs, liver, pancreas, two kidneys and intestines. As of January of this year, more than 113,000 men, women and children were on the national transplant waiting list. A new person is added to that list every 10 minutes. Twenty people die each day waiting for a transplant.

Last year, 36,528 transplants were performed in the U.S; 17,533 people did the donating. Of those, 10,722 were deceased at the time of the donation; 6,831 were living donors. Of the deceased donors, male donors far outnumber female donors, at 61% versus 39%.

Virtually all Americans support organ donation — 95% of them. But only 58% sign up to be organ donors.

The death of Lee Dingle, engineer, husband of Christian blogger Shannon Dingle, father of six children, four adopted from outside the country, was a random tragedy but through organ donation his death will ultimately be a celebration of life and a final act of generosity.

That final act of generosity can belong to everyone. What better way to leave a body than in the hands of those who can use it for good?

Register to donate your organs today. It’s as simple as going to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website and registering online at www.organdonor.gov/register.html.