April is Donate Life Month

National Donate Life Month (NDLM) was instituted by Donate Life America and its partnering organizations in 2003 with the support of then Secretary of HHS, Tommy Thompson. Celebrated in April each year, NDLM features an entire month of local, regional and national activities to help encourage Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to celebrate those who have saved lives through the gift of donation.

An outgrowth of the celebratory month is the Flags Across America initiative that began in 2009. It honors and celebrates the hundreds of thousands of donors and recipients whose lives have been affected by organ, eye and tissue donation. The initiative rallies every donor hospital and transplant center, as well as all recovery agencies, to collectively fly the Donate Life flag during April.

April is a great time to spread the word about organ donation and encourage others register as organ donors! For more information about the NDLM initiative, visit Donate Life America.

To register to become an organ donor, visit the Transplant Challenge page on our site.

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.

Miss Washington Encourages You to Donate Life

Photo from MissAmerica.org.

Devanni Partridge, of Auburn, Washington, is competing in the 2010 Miss America pageant while promoting her platform, “Donate Life: The Importance of Organ and Tissue Donation.” Everyone at the National Foundation for Transplants is excited to see this cause in the spotlight, and we hope it will inspire others to register to become organ and tissue donors.

As of today, more than 105,000 people are waiting for lifesaving transplants in the United States. Unless we have more people willing to become organ donors, that number will continue to grow. In fact, every 11 minutes, another name is added to the transplant waiting list. By increasing awareness of this problem, Miss Washington can help save many lives through organ transplants.

To learn more about the importance of organ donation, visit the NFT Web site to take the Transplant Challenge! If you’d like to register to become a bone marrow donor, visit the Be the Match registry. Be sure to tune into the Miss America pageant Saturday, January 30 at 8 p.m. (EST) on TLC.

Kiethen Taylor Chosen as an Honoree for This Year’s Donate Life Float

Kiethen was no ordinary 7-year-old boy. Of course, like all little boys, he loved running, climbing, jumping and riding bikes with his brothers. But young Kiethen also loved to help others, whether that meant doing the dishes or visiting with his neighbor who was mentally challenged.

Last September, while riding home from church, Kiethen and his family were in a car accident. While his family’s car sat at a standstill, a woman who had blacked out from an epileptic seizure collided with their car while going 80 miles per hour. Kiethen was killed instantly.

During this tragic time, Kiethen’s family knew he would want to continue helping others by donating his organs. “He always wanted to help. So we knew by giving the Gift of Life, Kiethen would be helping others in his death like he did in his short life. Why would you not?” explained his mother, Sharon.

According to the MidSouth Transplant Foundation, Kiethen will appear on the Donate Life Rose Parade float among other organ, eye and tissue donors who in their death, saved, healed and gave hope to thousands of people in need. Kiethen’s parents, Sharon and Kiethen, Sr. and his brothers Thomas and Curlandrius will fly from their home in Memphis, TN to Pasadena, CA to see Kiethen’s image transformed into one of 76 floragraphs that will adorn the Donate Life float in the 2010 Rose Parade.

Kiethen’s story is an inspirational one that may encourage others to become donors themselves. To learn more about becoming an organ donor, visit the Transplant Challenge Web site.

Three Rivers: What do you think?

Have you watched Three Rivers, the new transplant-related medical drama on CBS? If so, what do you think about it? While NFT is thrilled about the show’s efforts to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation, there are certainly some unrealistic aspects. Overall, NFT hopes Three Rivers continues to shed some light on the world of transplantation so more people understand how challenging, expensive and scary it can be. The producers of Three Rivers work with the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) to verify facts and statistics, which means that information should be current and accurate for all the viewers at home.

Let’s discuss some questions we’ve heard from Three Rivers viewers:

Does everyone get a new organ so quickly?
The short answer is no. The doctors on Three Rivers only have a one-hour time span in which they can transplant their patients, but that’s not true in the real world. The reality is that even though some patients are fortunate enough to be transplanted quickly, many patients wait for months—even years—before receiving a lifesaving organ.

How many people are waiting on a transplant in the U.S.?
Currently, more than 104,000 people are awaiting lifesaving transplants, and a new name is added to the list every 11 minutes. Sadly, there is a national shortage of organ donors, and 18 people die each day because there aren’t enough donors. Last year, only about 25% of the patients waiting received a transplant.

To become an organ donor, take the NFT Transplant Challenge!

Will insurance pay for everyone who needs a transplant?
Not necessarily. Even if someone has “good” insurance that covers transplant surgery, they may not be prepared for the enormous costs related to post-transplant medications and follow-up care, which will continue for the rest of their lives. Post-transplant medications can cost as much as $5,000 per month and can lead to a lifetime of financial worry. NFT encourages all transplant patients to strongly consider fundraising to help with their transplant-related medical expenses.

For more information about organ donation and transplantation costs, visit NFT's FAQ page.

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.

Alexis Grace and NFT!

National Foundation for Transplants staff members attended the 13th Annual Gibson 5K to promote organ donation and the Transplant Challenge. While there, we were lucky enough to meet American Idol contestant and Memphian, Alexis Grace, whose father is in need of a heart transplant.

13th Annual Gibson 5K Run/Walk

NFT is excited to join the festivities at this year’s Gibson 5K Run/Walk! Our Transplant Challenge team will be onsite in full force to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation!

With performances by Elmo & The Shades and a special appearance by American Idol’s Alexis Grace, we know this will be an exciting evening! We hope everyone can join in the fun by participating in this annual event, benefiting the St. Patrick Learning Center, and help save lives by registering to become an organ donor.

Did you know:

• 18 people die each day waiting for a liver 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 registry.
• 1 organ donor can save 8 lives.

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!

Transplant Challenge Pizza Party

Check out photos from our Transplant Challenge Pizza Party, which was held at the NFT office in April 17.

To see more photos, visit our Facebook page!

NFT Patient Still Waiting After 5 Years

Louis Lopez, a loving father and devoted friend, began battling health problems several years ago. He was finally diagnosed with end-stage liver disease. Doctors say a liver transplant is his only hope for a second chance at life. Louis has been waiting for his second chance at life for more than five years.

Louis' illness leaves him exhausted and unable to work. Despite his struggles, Louis has high hopes for the future and is thankful for the support of his loved ones. He looks forward to the lifesaving transplant that will allow him to spend more time with his family and friends. But he needs your help.

A liver transplant costs approximately $520,000. And that's only the beginning. Even with health insurance, Louis will face significant medical expenses. For the rest of his life, he will need follow-up care and daily anti-rejection medications. The cost of post-transplant medications can range from $2,000 to $5,000 per month--and they are as critical to his survival as the transplant itself.

Too many patients like Louis are waiting for lifesaving transplants because of the national shortage of organ donors. Please help these patients by accepting the Transplant Challenge to become an organ donor.

NFT Patient Waiting for a Heart Transplant

Ray Jolly has been on the waiting list for a heart transplant for more than three years. Like other NFT patients and supporters, Ray is encouraging others to accept the Transplant Challenge to increase the number of organ donors. Ray knows all too well how vital it is to add new names to the organ donor registry so more patients can receive their lifesaving transplants.

Watch this video, which originally aired April 8 on the Fox 13 Good Morning Memphis broadcast, to hear Ray’s story.

To help Ray, or other patients like him, visit our Web site to make a donation.

NFT Night at the Grizzlies!

The Transplant Challenge was in full swing as the National Foundation for Transplants partnered with the Memphis Grizzlies for NFT Night! More than 10,000 fans were in attendance as information about the Transplant Challenge was featured on the jumbotron. NFT staff members had a great time talking to people and spreading the word about the importance of organ donation.

By signing up new organ donors and raising funds, we were able to move closer toward our goal of adding 100,000 new donors and raising $100,000 to represent the more than 100,000 patients waiting for lifesaving transplants.

Have you heard about the Transplant Challenge yet? Click here for more information.

Enjoy the pictures below from our night at the Grizzlies!

NFT Night at the Redbirds!

Friday, April 24, the National Foundation for Transplants will be in the spotlight as the Memphis Redbirds take on the Nashville Sounds. Please join us for NFT Night at the Redbirds! Tickets are only $10. Proceeds will be split between NFT and the Redbirds Foundation.

At the game, please be sure to stop by the NFT table and accept the Transplant Challenge. By accepting the Transplant Challenge, you can help NFT reach our goal of adding 100,000 new names to the organ donor registry and raising $100,000 to represent the 100,000+ people on the transplant waiting list.

For more information and to buy tickets, please e-mail events@transplants.org. Tickets must be purchased by Monday, April 20 to benefit NFT. We hope to see you there!

Will You Accept the Transplant Challenge?

By now, you probably know we’re facing a national shortage of organ donors. But with just two easy steps, you can help alleviate this crisis!

1. Donate to NFT! With your help, NFT will raise $100,000 to represent the individuals on the transplant waiting list. If you donate $25 or more, you’ll receive a Transplant Challenge t-shirt! Please indicate your t-shirt size in the comment section of the donation form.
2. Become an organ donor! Click here to visit DonateLife.net and find your state registry to sign up!

When donating to NFT, please be sure to include your e-mail address so we can send you updates about the progress of the NFT Transplant Challenge!

Thank you for your support. Together, we are raising hope and changing lives.

Generously sponsored by:

Baptist Memorial Hospital - Memphis

Baptist Heart Institute