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Living donors can provide the gift of life to people who are in need of a kidney, lung or liver. Living-related kidney donations are the most common, but new medical advances have made partial lung and liver donations possible as well. If you are interested in being a living donor to someone you know, call that person's transplant center to find out if you are a potential match. If you don't have a recipient in mind but would like to donate an organ, call a transplant center in your local area to get information about testing procedures, including blood tests, medical screenings, etc. The transplant candidate's insurance may or may not cover the costs of these procedures, so be sure to ask the transplant center about this. Medicare will cover these expenses to match a kidney if the patient receiving the kidney is Medicare eligible. You can find contact information for transplant centers in your area at www.unos.org. There are not enough deceased donors available each year to provide all the waiting patients with a suitable organ. Genetic diseases often prevent one family member from being able to donate to another. Becoming a living donor is one way to meet this need; however, anyone considering doing so should first discuss it with their family physician and give the decision careful consideration.
Perspectives By:
Christy Rose, Living Liver Donor, MRDS Volunteer Until two years ago, organ
donation didn’t mean much to me. But that all changed on June 27, 2002
when I donated 60% of my liver to my aunt (my dad’s sister) Sandy Keene.
She was diagnosed with cryptogenic cirrhosis of the liver. Until then I knew very little
about organ donation and simply didn’t care because I didn’t need an organ
nor did I know anyone who did. Now I do volunteer work for MRDS to inform,
educate and encourage everyone I meet to be an organ donor. When my aunt was told that she
needed a liver transplant and was put on the waiting list, I assumed that she
would get the organ she needed to save her life. Little did I know that
the odds were slim. A year and a half went by and no liver became
available. Her doctors at the University of Virginia (UVA in
Charlottesville) told her that she would be a good candidate for a living liver
donation. Several family members volunteered to be tested but for their
own health reasons were turned down. I am a wife and stay at home
mother of two. After much discussion with my husband, I decided to be
checked as a possible match (for my aunt). I passed all the required
health checks and on June 27th, 2002 I donated 60% of my liver. I have
fully recovered and my aunt is doing very well. Before going into surgery, I
researched organ donation (living donation and deceased donation). I was
amazed at the statistics! Currently there are over 85,000 people in need
of organs. In 2001 living organ donations outnumbered deceased donations.
16 people die every day waiting for organs to become available. Every 45
minutes another person is added to the organ transplant list. While at the transplant center at
UVA, I saw first hand just how badly organs are needed. My heart went out
to those people. I knew I could help my aunt, but what about the others?
That is how I became involved in organ donation. I feel everyone has a purpose in
life. Sure, I have a husband and family to take care of. But I feel
I have a duty to those in need of lifesaving organs too. This is how I
feel I can help them and maybe make a difference. If everyone who could donate
their organs would donate, then we could wipe out the need for a waiting list in
just one year. People shouldn’t have to put their life at risk to save a
family member. But I’m glad I did. What about those who have no
family to depend on? Thanks to MRDS more people are being informed and
educated about organ donation. |
Regional Offices Golden State Donor Services 1.916.567.1600 Referrals 1.800.762.8819 Fax 1.916.567.8300 Mountain Region Donor Services 1.423.915.0808 Referrals 1.888.562.3774 Fax 1.423.915.1170 New Mexico Donor Services 1.505.843.7672 Referrals 1.800.843.7672 Fax 1.505.343.1828 Sierra Eye and Tissue Donor Services 1.916.569.0200 Referrals 1.800.762.8819 Distribution 1.800.435.5780 Fax 1.916.569.0300 Tennessee Donor Services Nashville 1.615.234.5251 1.888.234.4440 Referrals 1.800.969.4438 Fax 1.615.320.1655 Tennessee Donor Services Chattanooga 1.423.756.5736 Fax 1.423.756.5904 Tennessee Donor Services Knoxville 1.865.588.1031 Fax 1.865.588.5903 Tennessee Donor Services Jackson 1.731.425.6393 Our Corporate Office DCIDS Organ Services 1.888.234.4440 DCIDS Tissue Services 1.888.234.4399 DCIDS Tissue Orders 1.888.216.0319
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