Gift Of Life

1. Gift Of Life By Amy Lambert Media Literacy CMEM 210

2. Organ Donation

3. Organ Donation Organ donation takes healthy organs and tissues from one person for transplantation into another. Experts say that the organs from one donor can save or help as many as 50 people.

4. Organ Donation Facts Organs you can donate include internal organs: Kidneys Heart Liver Pancreas Intestines lungs Skin Bone & Bone Marrow Cornea Most organ and tissue donations occur after the donor has died. But some organs and tissues can be donated while the donor is alive.

5. Organ Donation Facts In 1984 of the National Organ Transplant Act was enacted, the United States moved to introduce order and fairness to organ-procurement organizations. The new law sought to ensure that citizens would be able to receive transplants of organs based on medical need rather than on wealth, status, and other accidents of birth or fortune. The law sought to encourage donation of organs by individuals and their families when a tragic sudden and unforeseen death occurred. Individuals were encouraged to clearly indicate their desire to will organs to recipients with medical need; families were urged to cooperate when the possibility of recovery from an accident was no longer even a slim hope.

6. Organ Donor Facts • As of September 24, 2010 there are 108,725 candidates on the waiting list for organs. • Transplants which have occurred from January – June 2010 is 14,140. • Donors from January – June 2010 is 7,136. • Approximately 18 times each day a man, woman or child dies while waiting for an organ transplant.

7. Organ Donor Facts • A Single donor can potentially save the lives of eight people through organ donation (heart, liver, two lungs, two kidneys, liver, pancreas and small bowel) and enhance the lives of up to 50 more through tissue donation (corneas, bone, fascia, skin, veins and heart valves)

8. Organ Donor Facts • In 2009, more than 28,000 Americans received a life-saving organ transplant and more than one million Americans received a life-changing tissue transplant. • Everyone is a potential donor regardless of age, race or medical history. • Less than 1 percent of all deceased are donor eligible. • 50% of all patients waiting for organ transplants are minorities.

9. Organ Donor Facts • To be a viable donor, an individual must have died as the result of a brain injury. These injuries include: head trauma, stroke, aneurysm, primary brain tumors and lack of oxygen. • The number one priority of a hospital is to save your life if you are sick or injured. Donation can only be considered after you are declared dead and your family has been consulted.

10. Organ Donor Facts • All major religions support donation and view it as a final act of love and generosity towards others. • When you are on the waiting list, what really matters is the severity of your illness, time spent on the waiting list, blood type and other important medical information, not economic or social status.

11. Organ Donor Facts • There is no cost to the donor family for the organ and tissue donation. The transplant recipient’s health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid covers the cost of the donation and transplant. • Donation does not change the appear of the donor’s body. • There is no age limit on who can donate. It is the medical condition at the time of death that determines what can be donated.

12. Organ Donor Facts • More than 90% of Americans support organ and tissue donation. • More than 97% of individuals who register to be an organ and tissue donor say “yes” while at their local driver’s license agency. • Your State’s Donor Registry is advance directive. If an individual is over the age of 18 and has added his or her name to the registry, the family cannot override their loved one’s decision to donate.

13. Be an Organ and Tissue DonorHelp Create a Donation Friendly America! • Each organ and tissue donor saves or improves the lives of as many as 50 people. • Giving the “Gift of Life” may lighten the grief of the donor’s own family. • Many donor families say that knowing other lives have been saved helps them cope with their tragic loss Please click on replay button for video “Organ Donation”

14. What You Can Do • Register with your state donor registry. (more information on how to register to be a donor in your state. Most states, but not all, have donor registries) https://www.donatelifeky.org/

15. What You Can Do • Designate your decision on your driver’s license. (Do this when you obtain or renew your license)

16. What You Can Do • Sign a donor care now. (Carry the donor card with you until you can designate your donation decision on your driver’s license or join a donor registry)

17. What You Can Do • Talk to your family now about your donation decision. (Help your family understand your wish to be an organ and tissue donor before a crisis occurs. Then they will be prepared to serve as your advocate for donation) Please click on replay button for video, “Samantha’s Story-Saving Lives Through Organ and Tissue Donation”

18. Why Organ Donation Is Important To Me I had a close family friend who was in need of a lung transplant. Her health declined and she passed away before she received a transplant. She was only 52 years old. She will never get to see her children have children. I have an employee who has an autoimmune disease. She has been told she will have to have a liver transplant someday.

19. If You Do Not Donate • Up to 50 people lives have been changed forever. They were waiting on you to give the gift of life. • You missed the chance to keep giving after your are gone.

20. Links For Additional Information on Organ Donation • *www.kyorgandonor.org • *www.trustforlife.org • *www.lifepassiton.org • *www.organdonor.gov *Sources for PowerPoint