| Waiting list candidates |
100,353 |
| # of Transplants Performed January - July 2008 |
16,386 |
| # of Donors January - July 2008 |
8,326 |
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Organ and tissue donation is truly a gift of life – it can be your gift of life. Every month, more than 2,000 new names are added to the national waiting list for organ transplants and, on average, 17 people die every day while waiting for a transplant of a vital organ such as a kidney, liver or heart.
In addition to solid organ donation, every year over 900,000 lives are helped through tissue and eye donation. Donated heart valves can replace damaged ones, allowing the heart to function well again. Special grafts help patients with spinal deformities live normal lives. Musculoskeletal tissue replaces bone, tendons and ligaments lost to cancer, severe trauma, degenerative joint disease, arthritis and other conditions. Skin can save the lives of burn victims.
A single donor can help up to 50 people—often many more—improve their lives. To find out how to be an organ, tissue and eye donor in your state, visit www.donatelife.net. (reprinted with permission from Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation)
Support KUFA’s efforts to increase awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation by joining us for our “Walk the Walk Central Park” on October 26, 2008.
Check back with us for additional ‘Walk’ sites and dates.
On Becoming an Organ Donor
How do I become an organ donor?
Laws regarding donation vary from state to state. Please make sure that you know your state’s requirements so that your wishes to become a donor are carried out.
http://www.unos.org/Resources/factsheets.asp?fs=6 and http://www.donatelife.net/CommitToDonation/
New York
On July 23, 2008, New York State instituted the New York State Organ and Tissue Donor Registry of consent. If you enrolled in the previous donor registry prior to the above date, you were enrolled in the registry of intent, which means that the consent of your next of kin would be required in order to confirm you donation and your enrollment is not automatically included in the new Donate Life consent registry. In order to ensure that your decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor is legally honored, you must enroll in the Donate Life Registry, which is a registry of legal consent at https://apps.nyhealth.gov/professionals/patients/donation/organ/DonorRegistration.action. At the time of your death, your family can derive a great deal of comfort knowing that you’re a designated donor. But it’s entirely up to you as to whether you tell your next of kin: either way, your enrollment in the donor registry is legally binding.
As a resident of New York, there are two ways to become an organ and tissue donor:
- Sign up in the New York State Organ and Tissue Donor Registry through the Department of Motor Vehicles when you apply for or renew your license or non-driver ID.
New Jersey
As a resident of New Jersey, there are two ways to become an organ and tissue donor:
- Make it a license to save lives. Make the donor designation on your New Jersey driver’s license or ID card. The words “Organ Donor” will appear on the front of your license and will be included in your computer record with the Motor Vehicle Commission. For more information or to pre-register visit www.donatelifenj.org.
- You should tell your family about your decision so they understand your wishes. If there is no designation on your driver’s license or other legal means of donor designation, the final decision about organ and tissue donation will be made by your family. Your wishes can also be made through advance directives and living wills.
- Until you get to MVC and make your donor designation, you can also sign and carry an organ donor card.
Remember, it is important that your family is informed of your intent to be an organ donor so they will honor and support your wishes Print and Fill out this Family Notification Card
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