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In 2003, over 21,000 people received life-saving organ transplants, but 4623 individuals died waiting. As of March 2005, the national organ transplant waiting list stands at over 87,000 individuals, of whom more than 60,000 are waiting for kidneys.
As medical technology has improved, transplantation has been able to save more and more lives, yet the supply of organs lags far behind the need. There are a few simple things that everyone can do to help solve this problem. Most transplanted organs come from sudden, accidental deaths. Please consider whether you would be willing to donate your organs in the event of your own death. To learn more about organ donation, visit these sites:
The United Network for Organ Sharing
The Organ and Tissue Donor Network
The Department of Health and Human Services Organ Donation Initiative
Keep in mind that each designated donor has the chance to save many lives. Then take action. Sign an organ donor card and be sure that your driver's license indicates your wishes. Discuss your plans with family members, so that they know and understand how important donation is to you. Chances are, if you don't think about donation now and take action, you will lose the opportunity to make the choice.
Whether planned for or not, organ donation can be a challenging experience for families. Grief and trauma at their own loss mix with the joy of being able to help others. The National Kidney Foundation's Donor Family Councils provide a place for families to share their feelings with others who have gone through the same experience.
If you are a kidney patient, you have a role to play also. When the opportunity arises, talk to your friends, family and co-workers about the desperate need for organs. Even if you may never need a kidney, encourage them to think of those who are struggling with kidney failure, now.
In 2003, about one-quarter of all transplants came from living donors. In most cases these were family members or friends of transplant recipients, but non-directed donations are becoming more common. To learn more about living donation, visit the National Kidney Foundation, which has developed many resources to help answer questions about living donation and meet the needs of live donors. Get answers to your questions about altruistic donation. To
reach the National Kidney Foundation of Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
New Hampshire and Vermont, please call:
800-542-4001
To
visit the National Kidney Foundation web site:
www.kidney.org