Organ donations are the most precious gift of all

Organ donation is perhaps the most precious gift you can give, or receive. According to the U.S. Government Information on Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation, there are currently over 99,000 candidates on the waiting list for an organ or tissue transplant. Each day, about 77 people receive the transplant that gives them a second chance at life, but 17 to 19 others die because they did not receive one.

Although becoming a donor is a very personal decision, just about everyone—from newborns to senior citizens—is a potential candidate. Because a variety of factors such as medical history and cause of death affect whether a person can be a donor, eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis at the time of death.

Donors can specify what they do (or don’t) want to donate, and may choose to donate organs, tissue or both. Organs that can be donated include heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, intestines and pancreas. Tissue donations include eyes, bone, skin, veins, heart valves and tendons. Donors can further specify whether the donation is to be used for research purposes.

If you are considering organ or tissue donation, here are some facts from the United Network on Organ Sharing (UNOS) to consider:

 n If you are sick or injured and admitted to the hospital, the number one priority is to save your life. Organ and tissue donation can only be considered after you are deceased.

 n When you are on the waiting list for an organ or tissue transplant, what really counts is the severity of your illness, time spent waiting, blood type, and other important medical information, not your financial or celebrity status.

n Donated organs are removed surgically in a routine operation. Donation does not change the appearance of the body for the funeral services.

 n There is no cost to the donor or their family for organ or tissue donation.

 n All major religions in the United States support organ and tissue donation and see it as an act of charity.

Becoming an organ or tissue donor in Idaho is a simple process. You first need to register with the Idaho Donor Registry, either by mail or online at www.yesidaho.org. You should then indicate your wishes on your driver’s license or state ID when you apply for or renew it.

Organ and tissue transplants offer patients a new chance at healthy, productive, normal lives. If you would like more information about becoming a donor, please visit www.yesidaho.org or www.unos.org.

n Lynda Metz is the director of community development at Bonner General Hospital. The facts and statistics in this article were provided courtesy of the Idaho Donor Registry and the United Network for Organ Sharing.