There are over 100,000 men, women, and children waiting for lifesaving organ transplants, with another person being added to the list every 9 minutes. 17 people die every day waiting for their life saving donation. There is a national system that helps to match those on the list with a donation based on blood type, body size, severity of illness, geographic distance, tissue type, and how long they’ve been waiting on the list. One person who chooses to donate can save 9 lives through organ donation, provide sight for two people, and restore health for over 150 people through tissue donation.
Tissue donation is something that often isn’t thought about when considering “becoming a donor.” While your heart, lungs, and kidneys can all save lives, tissue donation plays a big role is restoring another's wellbeing. It is estimated that one in 20 Americans will need a tissue transplant during their lifetime. Tissue like tendons (to rebuild joints), heart valves (to repair defects), veins (improve circulation), skin (heal burns and treat severe wounds), bones (to repair damage from injuries or bone degeneration) and even birth tissue, like the placenta, can be used in reconstructive procedures to promote healing, treat burns and other severe wounds.
What can you do about it? You can start by registering as a donor through registerme.org. While there is no age restriction on donation, you must be 18 or older to be on the registry. What is the difference between that little heart on your driver's license and being on this registry? Your license is state specific, while this registration is available nationwide. When someone is a candidate for donation, the local donation professionals will search both the national registry and the state registry to determine if you were registered as a donor. According to the National Survey of Organ Donation Attitudes and Practices, about 90% of Americans support donation, but only half of them are registered to donate.
After registering, you are encouraged to have a talk with your friends and family members about your wishes. No one enjoys talking about their end-of-life plans, but having those conversations while you are well and can calmly share your wishes. This can help ease the stress for your family if something unexpected happens.
While choosing to be a donor is a purely personal choice, it can help to know that all major religions support donation as a final act of compassion and generosity. In the cases of trauma, advanced age, or serious illness when clinical transplantation is not possible, donation to support scientific research is certainly an option. This research can help support medical breakthroughs that help support the health of thousands more. There is no cost to be an organ and tissue donor and it does not change any of your funeral plans.
It is vital that you know that being a donor does not change the care you receive in the hospital in any way. BSMC (and all health care facilities) are in the business of saving lives first. But there are some instances where that is not possible. Only after death is confirmed is donation an option.
In 2022 42,887 organ transplants took place in the US. It was a record-breaking year. Maybe the record to beat this year is getting registered to donate! To learn more about organ and tissue donation, visit donatelife.net.
