Ted, Steve, and I post many stories about so many wonderful people. We hope that these stories touch your heart, and personalize the thousands of people who are touched by organ and tissue donation. Some of these stories have happy endings, some are more educational, but our main goal is to inspire everyone with these stories to give hope through compassion!
With that being said, I do not have a story to share this week. I'm going to share some numbers! These numbers represent the donors, recipients, families, and friends who have been affected by organ donation.
I will also post some questions and myths that are often associated with organ and tissue donation.
As of Monday October 22, 2007 97,757 people are waiting for life saving transplants!!!
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Important Dates:
1954: First successful kidney transplant was performed
1967: First successful liver transplant was performed
1981: First successful heart-lung transplant was performed
1986: First successful double-lung transplant was performed
1989: First successful living donor liver transplant was performed
1990: First successful living donor lung transplant was performed
Question
How can I become an organ donor?
Answer
Each organ and tissue donor saves or improves the lives of as many as 50 people. Giving the "Gift of Life" may lighten the grief of the donor's own family. Many donor families say that knowing other lives have been saved helps them cope with their tragic loss.
- Register with your state donor registry, if available.
- Designate your decision on your driver’s license.
- Sign a donor card and carry it with you.
- Download a page of eight donor cards that you may print and sign.
- Order a free donor card that will be mailed to you.
- Talk to your Family. To help your family understand and carry out your wishes, sit down with your loved ones and tell them about your decision to be an organ and tissue donor. They can serve as your advocate and may be asked to give consent for donation or provide information to the transplant team.
To learn more visit http://www.organdonor.gov/
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Myth
My religion does not allow me to donate
Reality
All major religions approve of organ and tissue donation!! Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism all support donation.
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Question
Is there an age limitations to donate your organs?
Answer
There are no age requirements to become an organ donor. Whether you can donate or not depends on your physical condition. Newborns as well as seniors can be organ donors!
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HERE ARE THE NUMBERS!!
Organ | Nation |
Heart | 2,631 |
Kidney-Pancreas | 2,315 |
Liver | 16,743 |
Pancreas | 1,641 |
Kidney | 73,123 |
Intestine | 209 |
Heart/Lung | 116 |
Lung | 2,349 |
Pancreas Islet Cells | 230 |
Total | 96,859 |
As of 09/05/07