FROM THE PRESIDENT

The Texas Medical Center long has been a leader in organ and tissue transplantation. From numerous cardiac and renal innovations to the recent pancreas-islet cell transplant for patients with severe diabetes, technological marvels in transplantation have saved countless lives over the years.

Of course, more transplants necessitate a greater number of available organs. For more than a decade, LifeGift, which manages organ and tissue procurement in the Houston, Fort Worth, Lubbock and Amarillo areas, has worked diligently to help meet that need. But the demand has continued to outnumber the supply.

In LifeGift’s 109-county service area, close to 2,000 people sit on the transplant waiting list. Combine the populations of Texas cities Missouri City and Katy, and you have the number on the national list – 80,000 individuals awaiting the life-saving phone call. Unfortunately, an estimated 5,000 of these people will die this year waiting for a transplant.

Don’t let the numbers fool you. LifeGift’s performance is strong – reaching a 62 percent consent rate (family members who said "yes" to donating a loved one’s organs) from October 2000 through September 2001. This is about 10 points higher than the national average. LifeGift has partnered with Memorial Hermann Hospital and Ben Taub General Hospital to develop special programs at these Level-1 trauma centers and works closely with the minority communities to inform specialized audiences about donation. And not a week goes by without a visit by another organ procurement organization seeking to replicate its communications center and other operations.

We must acknowledge that most of the transplants performed in the Texas Medical Center would not be possible without the generosity of families who courageously thought of others when a loved one died.

What can you do? Make the decision to donate, and share that decision with your family. It is up to them, ultimately, to make the decision.

Remember – just one organ and tissue donor can provide up to seven life-saving organs and tissues that will enhance the quality of life for up to 20 people. Organs include the heart, lungs, kidneys, and the pancreas. Tissues include bone, skin, eyes or corneas, and heart valves. All are invaluable in overcoming disease, accidents, and birth defects.

Be an organ and tissue donor. Save lives – it’s just that simple.

For more information on organ and tissue donation, or to obtain a free donor card, contact the LifeGift Organ Donation Center at 1-800-633-6562, or visit online at http://www.lifegift.org.

E-Mail: tmcinfo@texmedctr.tmc.edu
URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/04_15_02/page_14.html