DPS NEWS

Irelan Bailey Tribute Plaque Unveiled at Taylorsville Driver License Division Office

Taylorsville – On Thursday, June 8th, DPS’s Driver License Division (DLD) and DonorConnect unveiled the third of several tribute plaques, which honor members of Utah’s transplant community.

This Tribute Plaque features Irelan Bailey, who was a tissue donor and impacted several lives
by selecting “YES” to organ, eye, and tissue donation.

Brady Dransfield, from DonorConnect, welcomed everyone to the unveiling ceremony, and thanked the Bailey family and their many friends for attending. “We celebrate, honor and remember Irelan with this tribute plaque,” he said.

Jerica Bailey, Irelan’s sister-in-law, shared memories of Irelan and stories of her abundant love and kindness. As Jerica spoke of Irelan’s choice to be an organ donor, Jerica said, “In her life and in her passing, she was selfless.” Reflecting on Irelan’s legacy, Jerica made two requests: “I ask today, please, that you do two things. First, that you live in love and in kindness…I ask that you love unconditionally…Don’t let the world harden you. And two, I ask that you please give the gift of organ donation if you haven’t already….Please sign up to be an organ donor or at least consider it, and educate your families and friends…Even though she’s not here with us today, she’s here with us in spirit. And she lives on in those she’s donated to.”

Irelan’s mother, Nita Bailey, also shared her thoughts on her daughter’s choice to be an organ donor, saying, “She’s continuing to give the gift of life and that is so Irelan.”

We are grateful to the Bailey family for sharing Irelan’s story and to DonorConnect for helping honor her donation and legacy.

DPS’ Driver License Division is partnering with DonorConnect to help bring more awareness to the importance of organ donation by installing similar plaques across the state. The two organizations hope the plaques will inspire more Utahns to say “YES” to becoming organ, eye and tissue donors when obtaining their driver’s licenses.

All plaques honor either a deceased donor, living donor or recipient from the community in which
the plaques are installed.

There are more than 104,000 people waiting for a life-saving organ transplants in the United States,
including more than 800 in Utah. Utahns can register to give the gift of “YES” at their local DLD
office or at DonorConnect.life.