There are currently almost 100,000 patients waiting for a life-saving transplant in the United States. Every 14 minutes, another name is added to the UNOS waiting list and an average of 17 people dies everyday due to the lack of transplantable organs. You can help save the lives of others. One donor can save or enhance the life of up to 50 people.

Who can be an organ donor?
In order to be an organ donor, a person must be declared brain dead and must remain on a ventilator in order to preserve the vital organs. Brain death occurs when there is a complete and irreversible stopping of all brain functions. This is caused by a recent insult or injury to the brain, which may result from a stroke, head injury or ruptured blood vessel in the brain. After brain death is declared, a patient may continue on a ventilator (or breathing support) which enables oxygen to reach the lungs and the heart to continue beating, but there is no recovery from brain death. Brain death is permanent and cannot be reversed. It is a legal definition of death.

What organs can be transplanted?
There are 8 transplantable organs in the human body, including heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, intestine and pancreas. Every organ is carefully evaluated before donation to ensure it can be transplanted successfully. All donors are treated with dignity and respect. The donation process occurs in a sterile, surgical environment and is conducted by a team of medical professionals. Many organ donors may also be tissue donors after organ donation has occurred. For more information on the organs that can be donated, click HERE.

Who can be a tissue donor?
Tissue donation may occur after brain death or cardiac death. Unlike organ donation, patients do not need to be maintained on a ventilator in order for donation to occur. Consequently, there are more opportunities for patients to become tissue donors after death. Tissue procurement occurs in a sterile, operating room environment. Every effort is made to complete the procurement as soon as possible after death.

What tissues can be donated?
Tissues that may be donated include bone, heart valves, skin, cartilage, tendons, veins and corneas. These tissues can have an enormous impact on the lives of recipients. Some examples of the many uses for donated tissues include the following. Donated bone can prevent amputation in patients suffering from bone cancer. Tendons and cartilage can replace tissue lost or injured due to trauma, disease or infection. Veins can be used to re-establish blood circulation in heart bypass surgery, helping to prevent heart attacks. Donated skin may be used to help save the lives of severe burn victims and heart valves have the ability to “grow” with younger patients, reducing the need for repeated surgery. Cornea recipients are often given the chance to see for the first time. Overall, hundreds of thousands of people benefit from some form of tissue transplantation every year. For more information on the tissues that can be donated, click HERE.

How can I make sure I’m a donor after death?
If you are a New York State resident, you can join the New York State Donate Life Registry to document your decision to be an organ/tissue donor.  The registry is a legal document of gift, meaning that enrolling in the registry gives your legal consent to donate organs/tissues if medically possible after death.  The Registry is a confidential database maintained by the New York State Department of Health. Click here to register online.