Organ Donation

COLEMAN MATTHEWS
 What is donation?

It is a choice.
By means of a transplant, organ donation allows
your organs to help people in need.
Four types of donations
Organ
Tissue
Cornea
Living
 Organ Donation

The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) keeps an

up-to-date computer network linking together all
operating transplant centers.
A living donor can give a kidney, a portion of the liver,
lung, intestine or pancreas.
A deceased donor can give kidneys, liver, lung, heart,
pancreas and intestinal organs.
Patients in need of a transplant are placed on a national
waiting list for a cadaver donation and most often
simultaneously search for a living donor.
Mackenzie’s Story
 Mackenzie’s Story

January 11, 2009: Mackenzie’s parents notice her

skin had a yellow tint to it.
January 12, 2009: Mackenzie is taken to the doctor
and then transferred to the emergency room.
January 16, 2009: A liver biopsy was performed to
determine liver failure and Mackenzie was
immediately flown to Georgetown.
January 17, 2009: Mackenzie is placed as priority 1A
on the top of the organ donation list.
 Mackenzie’s Story

Mackenzie’s father immediately enters testing to find

that he is a possible living organ donor. The living
organ donation is scheduled for January 22, 2009.
January 20, 2009: A cadaver donor became
available.
January 21, 2009: Mackenzie is taken into the
operating room at 2:00am to receive her new liver.
February 13, 2009: Mackenzie is released from the
hospital.
Mackenzie’s Story
 Why should I donate?

Every 11 minutes another name is added to the

national organ transplant waiting list.
 In 2008, there were 7,984 deceased organ donors
and 6,218 living organ donors resulting in 27,961
organ transplants.
You will be a hero and leave a lasting impact on so
many people by giving the gift of life.
 How can I become a donor?

Sign a donor card.

In most states, your drivers license will have an
“organ donation” designation.
Register with your state’s donor registry.
Make sure that your family knows that you wish to
be an organ donor.