 A heart on a NC driver’s license indicates you want to be a donor  It is illegal to buy or sell organs and tissues for transplantation in the United States  The type of medical care you receive is not influenced by your designation as a donor

Rich and famous people do not receive donated organs/tissues quicker than others  Majority of religions encourage organ and tissue donation  An organ donor can still have a customary funeral and an open casket, if desired

 There are 2 types of donors: living and deceased  One organ and tissue donor can save, or improve, the lives of 50 people or more  More than 100,000 people are on the national transplant waiting list right now  A new name is added to the list every 13 minutes

Every 27 minutes someone receives an organ transplant Blood donors must be 17 years old  Kidney transplants are more successful when the donor and recipient are from the same ethnic or racial background

Medical factors used in determining who receives an organ transplant: Size of organ Blood type Degree of illness

 At the end of the donation process, general information about the recipients of donated organs are given to the family  The recipient’s family picks up the medical costs from the organ banks for organ recovery and surgery. No expenses to the donor’s family

1. Patient is declared “brain dead” 2. Deceased patient’s family is contacted 3. Patient remains on ventilator 4. Tests are completed to determine which organs can be donated

5.A recipient is located through the United Network for Organ Sharing and the donor will undergo surgery 6.The body is prepared for the funeral home 7.Letters are sent to the donor’s family with general information about the recipient, excluding names

Organs Heart Kidney lungs Small intestines pancreas Liver Tissues Tendons/ ligaments blood skin veins Heart valves bone cornea Bone marrow

 You will write a letter to the donor family.

 Start by deciding: › What organ or tissue you received › Why you needed the transplant  Elements you can include in your letter › What your life was like before the transplant › How the transplant has changed your life. Mention activities you can do now that you couldn’t before. › Thank the family for their generous gift.  Aspects of communication to consider › How long would you wait before writing your letter and why? › Would you like to hear back from your donor family? › What would you want to learn about eh person who donated – their age, occupation, or hobbies? › Would you ever want to meet your donor’s family? › Because you can’t include your name, how will you sign your letter?