Organ and tissue donation is the process of recovering organs and tissues from a deceased person and transplanting them into others in order to save or enhance the lives of those in need. Up to eight lives can be saved through organ donation, and another 75+ lives may be improved through tissue donation.

There are approximately more than 1,300 local residents and approximately 115,000 people in the U.S. waiting for organ transplants (www.unos.org). Each year, approximately 7,000 people die waiting for an organ transplant that would have given them a second chance at life with their families. In addition, each year hundreds of thousands of people benefit from donated tissue that is used for lifesaving and reconstructive purposes.

The most commonly transplanted organs are the kidneys, liver, heart, lungs, pancreas and small intestines. As for tissues:

• Heart valves are used to replace defective valves; this is particularly lifesaving for babies and small children because of the small number of pediatric hearts available for transplant

• Corneas can restore sight to the blind

• Skin is used as a temporary dressing for burns, serious abrasions and other exposed areas

• Bone is used in orthopedic surgery to facilitate healing of fractures or prevent amputation, particularly for cancer and trauma patients

• Tendons are used to repair torn ligaments on knees or other joints

• Veins are used in cardiac by-pass surgery, particularly where the patient cannot provide his or her own veins

Many tissues that cannot be used for transplant can be recovered and used in a variety of research studies to advance cures to fatal diseases like Alzheimer’s, diabetes, cancer and others.