April is National Donate Life Month, and Montefiore Hospital spent Thursday encouraging people to register to become organ donors and honor those who have donated to save lives.

For Alana Howell, a liver transplant recipient and cancer survivor, organ donation saved her life and changed it forever.

“I thank that heavenly donor so much because if it wasn't for her, who knows? I may not be standing here today,” said Howell.

A flag was raised at the hospital to recognize those, like Howell, whose lives were touched by donation and transplantation. Organizers say there are almost 10,000 New Yorkers on the organ transplant list, and each year almost 500 lose their lives because they can’t get an organ in time.

In the Bronx, there has been a 40% increase in organ and tissue donation, and Montefiore specifically has seen a 100% increase in donors.

“Now, we do have a long way to go across our entire area for people to sign up for organ donation, but this is great progress and we're hoping through seeing all the lives there saved,” said Abraham Warshaw, of Live on NY.