The Gift Of Life

Organ and tissue donation is truly a Gift Of Life.  Transplants enable thousands of men, women, and children to return to normal, productive lives ieach year.  unfortunately, the waiting list for transplantation is growing.  More than ten people each day die waiting for lifesaving organs.

Crisis With A Cure
The cure is as simple as making a decision about organ and tissue donation and sharing your wishes with your family.  While most people support donation, many individuals have not shared their wishes with loved ones.

Donation can only occur if your family provides permission.  your driver's license or organ donor card is only an indication of your wishes.  By talking with your loved ones about your donation wishes, they will be better prepared to honor your request later.  Remember, the only way your family will know your decision is if you tell them.

How do I become a donor?  Tell your family your wishes.  It's that simple.  If you have questions about donations, get the facts.  Call LifeSource, toll-free, at 1-888-5-DONATE.

Donation Facts.
Most people can become donors.  While age and medical history are factors, most people can donate.

One organ donor can save the lives of eight people.
Organs that can be donated are the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and small intestine.  By donating corneas and small amounts of skin and bone, a single donor can save or enhance the lives of 40 others who suffer from vision problems, burns, and bone defects.

There is no cost for organ and tissue donation.
Donation is a gift.  There is no cost to the donor family.  All costs associated with donation are passed on to the transplant centers and the recipients.

Your decision to be a donor will not affect the care you receive at the hospital.
If you are injured and brought to the hospital, the doctors and nurses will do everything they can to save your life.  The opportunity to donate is offered to your family only after all lifesaving measures have failed and death is declared.

LifeSource collaborates with hospitals to offer families the opportunity to donate.
Under federal regulations implemented in 1998, hospitals must refer all hospital deaths to the regional organ procurement organization.  This law is designed to ensure that the families of patients who die, and who meet the criteria for donation, are given the opportunity to turn their loss into a  true gift of life.

Organs are distributed fairly.
A national system is in place to fairly distribute organs based on medical need.  Factors such as race, gender, age, income, or celebrity status are not considered when determining who receives organs and tissues.

Donation does not affect funeral plans.
Funeral arrangements are not delayed, and you may have an open casket service

Organs cannot be bought and sold.
It is illegal in the United States to buy or sell human organs.  Every organ donation and transplant is reviewed by a national governing body, preventing any "black market" for organs in the United States.

Most religions support donation.
The major religions, including the Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish faiths, support and encourage donationas a charitable and virtuous act.  Individuals with specific questions should consult their clergy.

What is brain death?
Brain death is death.  It occurs when the entire brain has lost all function.  Examples of injuries that cause brain death include trauma to the head from a motor vehicle accident, a ruptured blood vessel in the brain, or stroke.  A person can only become an organ donor if he or she is declared brain dead.  Tissue and eye donation are still possible after a cardiac death.

Is brain death the same as a coma or vegetative state? 
No.  A person in a coma or vegetative state still has some brain activity and, therefore, has not died.

How successful are transplants? 
Transplantation is no longer experimental.  It is a viable treatment option for individuals suffering from organ failure.  Three-year patient success rates are estimated at 95 percent for kidney transplants, 92 percent for pancreas transplants, 91 percent for heart transplants, 90 percent for liver transplants, 81 percent for heart-lung transplants, and 76 percent for lung transplants.

How can I receive more information about Life Source and organ donation?
If you have questions about donation, get the facts. Call LifeSource, toll free, at 1--999-5-DONATE.