healthy lifestyle

ORGAN DONATION

According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), there are more than 116,000 persons on the national transplant waiting list. (As of June 2012)

 * 20 persons die each day waiting for a life saving organ transplant.
 * Every 14 minutes, a new name is added to the national waiting list.

Minorities make up 61% of those waiting for kidney transplants on the national waiting list.

According to organdonor.gov, in 2010:
33% of deceased donors were minorities.
71% of kidney transplant recipients were minorities.
40% of all transplant recipients were minorities.

BONE MARROW

At any given moment, more than 3,300 persons are searching the bone marrow registry.

DONATION FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• Who can be a donor?
Anyone who is 18 years of age or older. If under the age of 18, a parent or guardian’s consent is required.

• How can you become a donor?
Sign a donor card or sign up your state’s donor registry. Please let your closest family members know as soon as you do so.

• Why is it important to donate organs?
More than 110,000 are on the national transplant waiting list.

• What organs can be donated?
Kidneys, Heart, Lung, Liver, Pancreas and Small Bowel.

• What are some tissues that can be donated?
Corneas, Heart Valves, Skin, Bones and connective tissues.

• What happens when people donate organs and tissues?
One donor can provide organs and tissues to save or enhance the lives of up to 57 persons. An example of a Tissue Donor is donating corneas to help the blind to see.

• Will my donation cost my family anything?
No, there is no cost to the donor’s family.

• Can I be a "LIVING DONOR?"
Yes. You can donate Blood, Bone Marrow or a Kidney. You can be a living “related” or a living “unrelated” donor.

• Can people sell their organs or tissues?
It is against the law in the United States to sell organs or tissues. The donor nor its family members may received money for donating organs and tissues.

• Will my body be deformed if I become a donor?
No. Donated organs and tissues are removed surgically. Normal funeral arrangements (with an open casket) can still be possible with an organ or tissue donor.