African-American donors needed!

At this moment, there are 110,461 people on the national waiting list for organ transplants. That number will probably change many more times today; in fact, a new name is added about every 11 minutes. It’s no secret – we have a huge shortage of available organs in the U.S.

This is a particularly big problem for African-Americans, who face increased risks for diabetes and kidney disease. There are 32,343 black patients currently listed for transplants, and 93% of those individuals need a kidney transplant. This group makes up nearly 30% of the national waiting list, but in 2010, only 14% of donors were black.

Transplant success rates dramatically increase when the donor and recipient are members of the same race, so it’s critical to register more African-Americans with their state donor registries.

As we celebrate Black History Month and recognize the wonderful leaders who have changed our society for the better, please take a moment to consider becoming an organ donor.

It’s easy! Visit our Transplant Challenge page to sign up with your state donor registry today.

April is National Donate Life Month

Did You Know?

• As of April 5, there were 106,742 Americans awaiting lifesaving transplants.
• More than 84,000 Americans need a kidney transplant to survive, but last year only 16,829 kidney transplants were performed.
• 18 people die every day while waiting for a transplant.
• 1 organ donor can save 8 lives and change the lives of more than 50 people.
• Almost anyone can be an organ donor, regardless of age or medical history.
• All major religions in the U.S. support organ donation.
• Organ donors can still have open casket funerals.
• Donors are needed for all races and ethnic groups.
• Transplant success rates increase when organs are matched between members of the same ethnic background.
• Organ donation does not cost the donor’s family any money
  

Are YOU an organ donor? To learn more about organ donation or to register as an organ donor, accept the NFT Transplant Challenge.

Family Hitting the Road to Promote Organ Donation

After receiving a lifesaving kidney/pancreas transplant in 2003, Mike Greiner and his family are forever grateful for the generosity of Annie, the selfless woman who registered to be an organ donor and saved Mike’s life. Because of Annie’s gift, Mike’s children still have a father to laugh and play with. The Greiner family wants everyone in the United States to understand the incredible need for organ donation, and they have a plan to reach that goal!

The family of four—Mike, his wife, Sheri, and their children Levi (12) and Chloe (9)—are taking a year-long journey across the country to raise awareness about organ donation. They’ve been planning the trip for quite some time, and even began homeschooling their children a few years ago in preparation for being away from a traditional school for so long.

Sheri tells momlogic.com, “We discovered that not only are we extremely blessed, but we're not guaranteed a tomorrow, and we need to pursue our dreams today. I have always wanted to experience this great country with my family, and we knew that our trip could help people who are waiting for transplants.”

To read the full interview with Sheri Greiner, visit momlogic.com.

HHS Recognizes Hospitals with Highest Organ Donation Rates

HRSA News Release:
In September, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) presented awards to 428 of the nation’s hospitals for their success in increasing the number of organs available for transplantation.

Hospital executives, together with their partners in all 58 federally designated organ procurement organizations (OPOs), received the Department’s Medal of Honor for Organ Donation for achieving and sustaining national goals for donation, including a donation rate of 75 percent or more of eligible donors at their facilities.

“These hospitals have made incredible progress in increasing the number of organs available for transplantation,” said Mary K. Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N., administrator of HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which leads federal efforts to increase organ and tissue donation. “Their efforts reflect the heights Americans can reach when they work together toward a common goal.”

Congratulations to all the hospitals for their outstanding efforts to increase organ donation. The following Memphis-area hospitals received this honor:

• Regional Medical Center at Memphis (Silver 1 Medal)


• St. Francis Hospital (Silver 1 Medal)


• Baptist Memorial Hospital (Bronze Medal)

To see the full list of award recipients or to read the full press release, click here.

Minority Donor Awareness Day

AUGUST 1 is National Minority Donor Awareness Day! This observance is designed to increase awareness for the need of organ and tissue donors, especially among minority groups. Did you know that in 2008, only 14% of all donors were African-American, and just over 13% were Hispanic? Less than 3% of all donors in 2008 were Asian.

According to UNOS, some diseases of the kidney, heart, lung, pancreas and liver are found more frequently in racial and ethnic minority populations. For example, African-Americans, Asians and Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics are three times more likely to suffer from end-stage renal disease than Caucasians. Native Americans are four times more likely than Caucasians to suffer from diabetes.

Successful transplantation often is enhanced by the matching of organs between members of the same ethnic and racial group. Therefore, a shortage of organs donated by minorities can contribute to death and longer waiting periods for minorities waiting for transplants.

To become an organ donor today, visit www.transplants.org and click on the Transplant Challenge logo.

Successful Fundraiser for Bone Marrow Transplant Patient!

Melissa Delgado, 23, has been searching for a bone marrow donor match for six years. Due to the shortage of organ donors among the Hispanic population, she has been unable to find a match. After being diagnosed with leukemia in 2003, doctors told her a bone marrow transplant is her only hope for a second chance at life.

While waiting for a match to be found, Melissa is still battling this illness every day. The costs of medications, doctors’ visits, insurance co-pays and donor searches continue to soar. To help with the growing expenses, Maria DeFrancesco decided to find a way to help.

Maria, who only recently met Melissa, connected with Melissa through NFT. In May, Maria planned a cocktail dinner, including dancing, a raffle and entertainment, to raise money for Melissa’s fundraising campaign with NFT. Overall, this event raised more than $8,000 in honor of Melissa! We are so excited for Melissa, and we're thankful for her wonderful support system of volunteers.

This month, Maria and her boyfriend, Neal, held a benefit concert at Galapagos Art Space in Brooklyn. The concert, which featured a lineup of “buskers” (people who play music, dance or perform publicly, such as in the subways and parks of NYC), also benefited Opus 118 Harlem School of Music. Proceeds from a raffle featuring music-realted items benefited NFT in honor of Melissa.

Neal told NFT, “I was so inspired by the fundraiser that Maria put together, and by Melissa and her beautiful circle of family and friends that I decided to dedicate a part of this event to her as well.”

National Minority Donor Awareness day is coming up soon, and NFT wants to raise awareness about the vast shortage of minority organ and tissue donors in the United States. Learn more about the need for minority donors by visiting the National Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program Web site.

The Truth About Organ Donation

• Anyone can be an organ donor, regardless of age, race or medical history.
• All major religions in the United States support organ donation.
• Organ donors can still have open-casket funerals.
• Organ donation doesn't cost the donor's family any money.
• If an individual is hospitalized, medical staff will provide the best possible care, whether or not the patient is an organ donor. In fact, the transplant team is completely separate from the medical team and won't even be called unless a patient is declared brain dead.
• Donors are needed for all ethnic groups. Transplant success rates increase when organs are matched between members of the same ethnic background.

Right now, 101,884 people are waiting for a lifesaving transplant. Because of the vast shortage of organ donors, 18 people die each day waiting for a transplant in the United States. In an effort to help alleviate this problem, NFT recently kicked off the Transplant Challenge! We hope to raise $100,000 to support transplant patients and add 100,000 new names to the donor registry.

Accept the Transplant Challenge today!

Did you know...

• 18 people die each day waiting for a transplant.
• Every 11 minutes, another name is added to the transplant waiting list.
• 90% of Americans say they support organ donation, yet only 35% of licensed drivers or ID card holders have enrolled in a state donor registry.
• 1 organ donor can save the lives of 8 people.
• Anyone can be an organ donor, regardless of age, race or medical history.
• All major religions in the United States support organ donation.
• Organ donors can still have open casket funerals.
• Organ donation doesn't cost the donor's family any money.
• If an individual is hospitalized, medical staff will provide the best possible care, whether or not the patient is an organ donor. In fact, the transplant team is completely separate from the medical team and won't even be called unless a patient is declared brain dead.
• Donors are needed for all ethnic groups. Transplant success rates increase when organs are matched between members of the same ethnic background.

Meeting Her Donor for the First Time

L to r: Wingate Grant ( son), Susan, Peter Andrews (donor), Helen Andrews (Peter’s wife)

Last month, Susan Grant had a moment she'll never forget! Ten years after receiving her lifesaving bone marrow transplant, Susan met the donor who changed her life forever.

Peter Andrews, of England, donated his bone marrow to save Susan's life after she was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia.

"Meeting Peter is a dream come true," said Susan. "I've kept a photo of Peter and his family on my mantel for years. When I look at it, I'm reminded that a complete stranger gave me back my life, and I'm grateful beyond words."

Organ Donors in the U.S.

In 2007, the number of organ donors across the country was double the amount in 1988. The increase in organ donors is great news, but there's still work to be done! Certain regions in the country have far fewer donors than others.

For example, the New England region had 257 donors last year, while the Southern region had more than 1,000 donors.

With more than 100,000 people currently awaiting transplants in the U.S., we desperately need to remind people in our communities of the urgent need for organ donors.

Below is a list of the number of organ donors in specific regions of the United States last year.

• Region 1 (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI): 257
• Region 2 (D.C.,DE, MD, NJ, PA, WV): 975
• Region 3 (AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, Puerto Rico): 1,377
• Region 4 (OK, TX): 779
• Region 5 (AZ, CA, NV, NM, UT): 1,138
• Region 6 (AK, HI, ID, MT, OR, WA): 256
• Region 7 (IL, MN, ND, SD, WI): 637
• Region 8 (CO, IA, KS, MO, NE, WY): 543
• Region 9 (NY, VT): 468
• Region 10 (IN, MI, OH): 745
• Region 11 (KY, NC, SC, TN, VA): 914

Contact your local organ donation registry, or visit Donate Life America to become an organ donor in your state.