Transplant Headlines

There's a lot of news out there today and the following items are an example of the extensive media coverage organ and tissue donation and transplantation in general is starting to receive.

Teen remembers organ donor who saved her life
This article on the Houston Chronical's web site is a heartwarming story about a teenager's reaction to seeing a picture of her kidney donor who died as a result of an accident. The story has many important implications for promoting organ donation, such as religious concerns and a donor registry just introduced in Texas. Hopefully more states and provinces will take the same initiative. It could literally save lives.

The article goes on to say:
"Registering as an organ, tissue and eye donor is easier than ever after the Texas Department of State Health Services introduced a revamped online organ donor registry this month.

The Web site, DonateLife Texas.org is a one-stop shop for potential organ donors and their families. On this site, Texans can sign up to be organ donors and read all about the process.

Those interested in organ donation can register through this database. The database replaces organ donor cards and the old system of registering with the Texas Department of Public Safety during the process of obtaining or renewing a driver's license.

"There are people who stated their intentions to be organ donors years ago on their driver's licenses, but that system is no longer in use and it never worked very well," said Pam Silvestri, public affairs director of the Southwest Transplant Alliance in Dallas. "This system is foolproof. If you sign up, you're a donor. Nobody can change that but you."

Silvestri said once a person registers, it's legally binding. Before, family members could override the decision."
Read the full story.

Organ donor's wishes legally binding
From The Charlotte Observer, Sept. 6, 2007

North Carolina will soon join 44 other states in ensuring that the wishes of potential organ donors, as expressed on their driver's licenses, are respected.

A new law, which takes effect Oct. 1, makes a driver's decision to be an organ donor, as designated by a red heart on a driver's license, legally binding. Gov. Mike Easley signed the bill Friday.

In the past, the red heart indicated the driver's intention to be a donor, but it could be overturned by the owner's family. Under the new law, a family member's permission will not be needed to carry out wishes conveyed on driver's licenses.
Read the article.

'They called me Mr. Lucky'
The Derry Journal in Ireland has a story about the amazing recovery of a lung transplant recipient who was dying from sarcoidosis, a hardening of the lining of the lungs. Read the story.

“You Have the Power to Save Lives – Sign Your Donor Card & Tell Your Loved Ones of Your Decision”

Download Donor Cards from Trillium Gift of Life Network

Download Donor Cards from OrganDonor.Gov