The Benefits of Donating Life

The video embedded below explains the positives of organ and tissue donation from both the viewpoint of a donor family and an organ transplant recipient. It's a very powerful video that can also be watched by clicking here.



Read more - wsls.com article titled "Local Families Stress Importance of Organ Donors"

Seeing Things Differently

Even though TODF is a bit "green," we are comprised of people who have been involved with the advocacy of organ and tissue donation for a number of years, such as transplant recipients, donor family members, and living donors. People personally touched by the life-changing miracle of organ and tissue donation. One of our objectives is sharing that tissue donation is just as important as organ donation, because it positively impacts lives, too. We shared one such example in a blog post last week. We share another one today with Robert Gusinsky's story.

Human eye about 1 week after a Cornea transplant. The multiple light reflections indicate folds in the cornea, which later resolved. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

At 14 years of age, Robert was diagnosed with a condition known as keratoconu. It causes a degeneration of the cornea to the point it's shape changes into a cone. He maintained his vision for a long time through the wearing of glasses and contacts and was able to fly planes for a number of years. Eventually, though, his eyesight worsened to the point that he had to give up flying. So, he went to law school, got his degree and law license, and became an assistant United States attorney.

By 2002, the eye disease had worsened to the point where he could only wear his contacts a couple of hours at a time. Without them, he was nearly blind in his left eye. He had to stop riding his motorcycle and had difficulty driving. After his corneal transplant surgery in 2003, things improved dramatically. He got his quality of life back and now has 20/30 vision. He thinks about his donor every day, and sometimes wonders if he sometimes sees things differently through the eyes of his donor. Realizing that a high price was paid to restore his sight, Robert wants people, and donor families in particular, to know that, "... good can come from a really tragic situation."

The reason we share Robert's story is because sometimes people are unable to donate their organs when they pass away. In fact, statistics show that only about 2-3% of us are able to be organ donors. Various factors, such as a person's health condition and cause of death, can prevent one from being an organ donor. However, the important thing to know is that nearly everyone can be a tissue donor, and one tissue donor can improve as many as 50 lives !

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

Read more - RapidCityJournal.com article titled "Man's Vision Restored Through Donated Cornea"

80 Year-Old to Celebrate 25th Heart Transplant Anniverary

Doris Thomas of Marseilles, IL is steadily approaching another major milestone. So far, she has :

1. become the first person to receive a heart transplant in Peoria, IL,
2. celebrated her 80th birthday, and
3. on April 27th, she will celebrate the 25th anniversary of her heart transplant.

Location map of Peoria, Illinois (Photo credit: Wikipedia

She was diagnosed with idiopathic cardiomyopathy in early 1987 after collapsing while cooking in the restaurant where she worked. She had been short of breath for some time but thought it was asthma. At the time, doctors estimated she only had a 25% chance of living through 1987. She, obviously, defied those odds.

Doris has enjoyed great health since her transplant 25 years ago, except for two bouts with cancer. She has raised a grandson and met several other grandchildren, including a great-granddaughter. In regards to her good fortune, Doris is very grateful to her donor. "They gave me 25 more years," she said.

For more information about organ and tissue donation, please visit our website at www.SaveLivesTN.org by clicking here. If you have not yet registered as an organ and tissue donor, you can learn how to do so on our website, too. Who knows, one day you might be the hero that gives someone like Doris 25 extra years of life.

Read more - pjstar.com article titled "At 80-years-old, Peorias First Heart Transplant Patient Remains a Survivor"

Tissue Donors Make a Difference, Too

Even though it does not get the publicity or notoriety that organ donation does, tissue donation makes a huge, positive impact on peoples' lives, too. In fact, studies show that only about 2% of registered organ donors are actually able to donate their organs at time of death. There are a number of reasons the percentage is so low. The person's cause of death and / or various factors involving their prior health history can sometimes preclude someone from being an organ donor. However, even if someone is unable to be an organ donor, nearly everyone can be a tissue donor. In fact, just one tissue donor can improve as many as 50 lives !!

A human eye that received a cornea transplant. This is after one year of healing, there are still two stiches left to be removed. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The types of tissues that can be donated include corneas (eyes), bone, skin, ligaments, tendons, and heart valves. One person that knows the value of tissue donation is Janice Smith of Maryland Heights, MO. Up until a few years ago, she suffered from a genetic eye disease called Fuchs' Dystrophy. The disease causes the deterioration of the cells of the cornea, the clear membrane that covers the front of the eye, leading to fluid buildup and blurry vision.

Janice had lost her vision to the point that she could not watch TV, drive, or read. So, in 2006 and 2007 she had cornea transplants done, first on one eye and then on the other. When asked about the vast improvement in her quality of life, Janice said, "It was like a miracle. If I hadn't had this, it would have ended my independence."

Currently, they are over 40,000 Americans in need of a cornea transplant. The interesting thing about cornea transplants is that there is no matching done from donor to recipient. It is not necessary. In fact, the process is simple compared to an organ transplant, because donor and recipient do not even have to be the same blood type.

For more information about organ and tissue donation, or if you would like to register as a donor, please visit our website at www.SaveLivesTN.org.

Read more : emissourian.com article titled "A Vision for All to See"

Nurse Saves Neighbor

Debbie Beck has worked as a nurse in the transplant unit at Intermountain Medical Center for over 15 years. She has helped many who were seriously ill and running out of time. However, last summer a patient came through her unit who was really special to her. It was her neighbor, Russell Maynes.

Maynes, Beck, and their families have grown close since both families moved into the neighborhood five years ago. Last summer, Maynes spent the entire day at Intermountain after being rushed there in anticipation of a life-saving kidney transplant. Unfortunately, the day ended in disappointment when it was discovered that the donated kidney was not a good match. After hearing the heart-breaking story, Beck felt compelled to help him. So, she decided to be a living kidney donor for him. In doing so, she saved his life.

Maynes has 10 children and 40 grandchildren. He now has the opportunity to spend more time with them and see them grow up. When asked about his thoughts on his good fortune, Mayne replied, "You think, Well, what greater gift can someone give you than the gift of life, and especially when it could be their own life that they are willing to put on the line to give you the ability to be with your family and your friends."

TODF agrees, Mr. Mayne. That is exactly the message we are working to convey everyday. Organ donation is about giving the gift of life. If you would like more information about organ and tissue donation, or want to learn how to register as a donor, please visit our website at www.SaveLivesTN.org.

Read more - sltrib.com article titled "Transplant Nurse Becomes Kidney Donor for Utah Neighbor"

Related articles

• Man receives kidney from unexpected donor (fox13now.com)

1-Year Old Gets Second Chance From Uncle

In order to facilitate the advocacy of organ and tissue donation, the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation (TODF), will start sharing transplant success stories from across the U.S. on it's blog. Frequently, TODF runs across such stories about regular, everyday people who have had their lives saved or dramatically improved by caring organ and tissue donors and their families. TODF believes these heroes' stories show the personal side of organ and tissue donation having a dramatic impact in  encouraging Americans to register as donors. We hope you enjoy and are personally touched by these awesome stories. We share the first one today.

Location in Middlesex County in Massachusetts (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Sarah Pastore, 15 months old, of North Reading, MA had only one, failing kidney when she was born. Doctors screened seven people as potential donors, and it turned out Sarah's uncle, Anthony Pastore, was found to be the best match. Sarah endured the four-hour surgery and is now doing well. After having to eat and take her medicine through a nasal feeding tube until she was one year old, she is now munching on Cheerios.

Her uncle is thrilled to see her doing well and feels blessed to have been able to help his niece. When asked about her, he just smiles and says, "She's my baby." He's a hero. Sadly, there's over 113,000 other Americans who need a hero, too. If you have not registered as an organ and tissue donor, TODF encourages you to do so. You might save a life, too, one day. For more information, or to register as a donor, please visit our website www.SaveLivesTN.org by clicking here.

Read more - Boston.com article titled "Birthday Gift of Life"