Triple-Transplant Recipient

Below is a video of a news report about a South Carolina woman who recently received a triple-organ transplant, including heart, liver, and kidney. We have embedded the video report below, or you can watch it and read the article by clicking here.

FOX Carolina 21

For more information about organ and tissue donation, or to register as a donor in the state where you live, please visit the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation's website by clicking here.

Read more : article on www.FoxCarolina.com titled "Woman Recovers from Heart, Liver, and Kidney Transplants"

Making A Difference

Back in March of this year, a young man named Ty Osman was attending college in Arkansas when he began a spring break trip to Texas. Unfortunately, he never reached his destination, because he perished in a traffic accident en route. To one Texas man, though, and his family, Ty will always be remembered as a hero.

Peritoneal dialysis (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Kelly Barnes was diagnosed with diabetes at a young age. By 2011, he found himself on dialysis, because his kidneys were failing. When young Ty passed away in that tragic accident, however, Kelly received Ty's pancreas and one of his kidneys and is no longer on dialysis nor does he need insulin. According to Barnes, "Because of the organs I received from Osman, I can look forward to a long healthy life."

Last month, Barnes got to meet Ty's family at a special ceremony at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Texas. Ty's family, including his mother, his father, and two sisters, joined Barnes for the hospital's dedication of the Wall of Heroes which honors organ and tissue donors. Ty's mother, Nancy, was very happy to meet Barnes saying, "It's a blessing. I'm glad to see that Ty is still making a difference in the lives of others, even after his death."

Ty also donated his other kidney, heart, liver, and lungs saving additional lives. If you would like more information on organ and tissue donation, please visit the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation's website by clicking here. While visiting the site, you can also learn how to register as an organ and tissue donor in the state where you live.

Read more : article on www.news-journal.com titled "Organ Donation Changes Lives" 

A Milestone in Hawaii

Recently, Sarah Chee made history as the first liver transplant recipient to have had both her transplant and child in Hawaii. Interestingly, her doctor shared with her that it is pretty rare for a liver recipient to have a child - it happens only about 25 times a year.

Hawaii polynesian cultural centre (Photo credit: Danielle Bauer)

Even though such pregnancies are a little riskier, both mom and baby are doing great. Sarah is just thankful for the opportunity to still be alive. In her words, "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for organ donation. I wouldn't be sitting here to have this opportunity."

The end of the article reporting this story on www.kitv.com refers to the blessing the Chees have received as a result of someone choosing to be an organ donor as "One transplant gift, two lives, and a whole new world ahead for the Chee family." At the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation, we believe those words sum up the miracle of organ donation perfectly. Besides the recipient, there are always multiple lives affected, including spouses, siblings, parents, friends, and others who get to spend more time with the recipient after their transplant. It's why we do what we do at the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation.

For more information about organ and tissue donation, including how to register as an organ and tissue donor, please visit our website at www.SaveLivesTN.org by clicking here.

Read more : kitv.com article titled "Doctors Hail First Childbirth to Liver Transplant Patient in Hawaii"

South Florida Gains 3 New Transplant Centers

Recently, three hospitals in Broward County, FL received approval from the state's Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to open new transplant programs. The three new transplant programs are for :

1. heart transplants - Memorial Regional Hospital - Hollywood, FL
2. kidney transplants - Broward Health Medical Center - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
3. heart, liver, and kidney transplants - Cleveland Clinic - Weston, FL

English: Logo of Broward County, Florida (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

These new transplant center openings are great news for Florida residents who either need life-saving transplants or ones who have received transplants in the past. South Florida residents in need of transplants will now have greater access to donated organs closer to home without having to travel long distances to Miami, Tampa, or out of state for transplants. In addition, transplant recipients will not have to travel as far for follow-up care. It's a win for Florida's entire transplant community.

For more information about organ and tissue donation, please visit the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation's website by clicking here.

Read more : sun-sentinel.com article titled "Three Broward County Hospitals to Add Organ Transplant Programs"