Organ and tissue donation. 

It's your decision.  It's their lives.

The decision to donate organs and tissue after your death may not seem necessary to you right now, but for the tens of thousands of people waiting for transplants your choice is a ray of hope.

One donor can save or enhance the lives of more than 50 recipients.  Through this gift of life, hearts can be repaired, and bodies can be restored.  Truly, your gift will live on in so many beautiful ways.

What is organ and tissue donation and who benefits?

Organ donation usually takes place following an injury that results in brain death.  In order for organs to be suitable, the donor's heartbeat and circulation are maintained artificially after death through mechanical ventilation until the recovery of the organs takes place.  In such cases the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas and intestines can be donated.

In certain circumstances when brain death has not occurred, the liver, pancreas and kidneys may be donated.  This procedure only takes place after a discussion between the physician and the family results in the decision to withdraw mechanical ventilation and treatment, and heart activity ceases.

Heart valves, eyes, bone, skin, veins and other tissue can also be donated after heart activity ceases.  Among those helped by tissue donation are people with congenital deformities, bone cancer, severe burns or athletic injuries.

The people on the national waiting list cover every age, race and gender.  No special preference is given to anyone who awaits a transplant.  The only transplant criteria are length of time on the waiting list, severity of illness and other medical criteria such as blood type.  While advances in medicine have made great strides in the development of alternative medical treatments, the need for organ and tissue donors continues to grow.

Clearly, there is no greater gift than the gift of life.  And those who make the decision to become an organ donor and tissue donor give those in need of a transplant a second chance at life.

Who can donate?

Organ and tissue donation is a choice available to everyone.  It is important for you to know that by law, every hospital in the U.S. is required to notify their local organ procurement organization (OPO) of all deaths.  Hospitals in the eight counties of Western New York must contact Upstate New York Transplant Services (UNYTS).

Upon notification of a death, UNYTS determines donor suitability and presents the option of donation to the family.  Virtually anyone, regardless of age or medical history, can be a potential donor.  With the family's permission, organs and tissues that are donated but are not suitable for transplant can be utilized for valuable research purposes.  This will help in the study of cancer, asthma, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and many other conditions.

Of special concern

Some diseases of the kidneys, heart, lungs, pancreas and liver are found more frequently in certain racial minority populations.  For example, African Americans, Asians and Pacific Islanders are three times more likely to suffer from end-stage renal disease (lack of kidney function) than Caucasians.

Approximately 50% of the people in Western New York waiting for a kidney transplant are minorities.  By contrast, only 13% of the organ donors each year in this community are minorities.

The success of transplantation often is enhanced by the matching of organs between members of the same racial group.  Generally, people are genetically more similar to people of their race than to people of other races.

Aftercare

UNYTS is devoted to the families of donors as well.  UNYTS staff stays in touch with donor families, keeping them informed of the medical outcomes their generosity has made possible.  And while the entire donation process is completely confidential, UNYTS can help families communicate with recipients anonymously and stay updated on their progress.

Education

UNYTS' efforts don't stop with the donor families in our region.  UNYTS continues to reach out to educate everyone about the life saving effect organ and tissue donation can have.  Through school education programs, UNYTS touches the youngest in our community, encouraging a discussion with their own families.  UNYTS also recognizes the diversity within the community and embraces cultural differences through public and professional education programs.

Who is UNYTS?

Upstate New York Transplant Services (UNYTS) is a nonprofit organization authorized by the federal government to accept organs and tissues for transplantation and research.  UNYTS is committed to enhancing and saving lives though organ, tissue, and eye donation while maintaining respect for those who give the gift of life.

UNYTS serves the eight counties of Western New York, linking donor families and hospitals to medically trained professionals who coordinate the organ and tissue donation process 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Learn more and get involved

If you'd like to learn more about organ and tissue donation, log onto the UNYTS website at www.unyts.org.  You can also request to be added to their mailing list, to receive news and information from UNYTS, by logging on or by calling UNYTS at (716) 85-DONOR.

UNYTS' professional staff can explain the facts about organ and tissue donation to community groups and businesses.  Speakers with a wide range of experience relating to organ and tissue donation are available to share their personal stories with your group.  You may schedule a speaker by contacting the UNYTS office.  Volunteer opportunities are also available, and can be arranged by contacting UNYTS' director of community relations.

Things you should know about organ and tissue donation

• No costs are incurred by the donor's family for the recovery of organs and tissues.

• All major religions approve of organ and tissue donation and consider it an act of charity.

• The quality of medical and nursing care will not change regardless of your decision to be a donor.  A transplant team does not become involved until all possible efforts have been made to save a person's life.

• The recovery of organs and tissue for transplant is carried out in an operating room, using standard surgical procedures.  The donation process, in most cases, does not delay funeral arrangements, nor does it prevent the family from having an open casket viewing.

• Regardless of race, age or gender, organs are allocated based on blood type, body size, time on the waiting list and urgency of need.  Through a national computerized waiting list a potential recipient list is available within minutes.

• Although race is not a determining factor in organ placement, some minority populations are at greater risk for contracting diseases leading to end-stage organ failure.  Normally, people of the same ethnic background have a similar genetic structure and therefore produce a closer match for transplant.

INFORMATION COPYRIGHT UPSTATE NEW YORK TRANSPLANT SERVICES