Did you know that you can help up to 50 people by donating your corneas, skin, bone, tendons and heart valves? The list of patients waiting for an organ donor is growing as you read this article!
Approximately 79 patients receive organ transplants every day, but unfortunately another 18 die whilst waiting. In other words, organ donation is the ultimate gift – and one in great demand. There are two kinds of organ donation: living and deceased. Deceased donors can provide six types of organs (kidney, pancreas, liver, lungs, heart, and intestines) as well as tissues (such as bones, skin, heart valves, and veins) and corneas. Living donors can provide a kidney or a portion of a liver, lung, or intestine. In some cases living donors can provide eyes and tissues.
Organ donation saves lives, and anyone – regardless of age or medical history – can sign up to be an organ donor upon his or her death. As with any surgery, there are risks – but living donation does not change life expectancy, and most donors live happy, healthy, and normal lives after recovering from the procedure. For living kidney donors, the remaining kidney will enlarge slightly to do the work that two healthy kidneys share. The liver has the ability to regenerate and regain full function. Lungs and pancreas do not regenerate, but donors usually have no problems with reduced function.
The bottom line is: organ donation saves lives.
How do you become a potential organ/tissue donor? The process is straightforward. Register online or call the Organ Donor Foundation’s toll free line on 0800 22 66 11.
By Dr Deseré Ferreira.