More than half of Ohio residents are organ donors. However, at any given time more than 3,000 people are waiting for organ donations. According to donatelifeohio.org, there are not enough organ donors in Ohio to meet the demand.
“Eighteen men, women and children die each day waiting for an organ,” said Derrick Duckworth, Life Connection of Ohio’s education specialist. “In the last 10 years, more than 2,000 Ohioan’s died waiting on an organ transplant.”
Life Connection of Ohio will make an appearance at the Ponitz Center on Nov. 10 at the time of the Diabetes Expo.
Organ donations are matched based off of medical compatibility of the donor and recipient. Neither gender nor race affects the match.
Duckworth said the kidneys, heart, small intestine, lungs, liver and pancreas can be donated, along with different types of tissue.
Accepted tissues are bone, ligament, cornea, heart valve, nerve, middle ear, skin and fascia.
“One person registered can save up to eight lives and enhance 50 others,” said Duckworth.
He said organ transplantation must happen rather quickly— as the heart and lungs will only be usable within four to six hours after the time of death, and the kidneys and liver have 24 to 48 hours.
Some kidney transplant operations are performed while the donors are still alive. Advances in technology have also made it possible for living donors to give parts of the liver and pancreas.
Duckworth said within six to eight weeks after a quarter of the liver is donated, it regenerates to its original size. However, doctors will only allow a person to donate part of the liver once.
“Life Connection of Ohio serves as a vital link between the organ donor and transplant recipient,” said Duckworth. “In 2011, Life Connection of Ohio coordinated the recovery of organs from 46 donors, providing 149 life-saving transplants.”
To register to be an organ donor, go to donatelifeohio.org, ask at the Life Connection mobile unit or register at your local BMV. People as young as 15 and a half can register upon receiving their driving permit. However, the parents of the donor can reject the organ donation registration at the time of death, if the person is still a minor.
“[It’s] definitely the greatest act of kindness that a human being can offer,” said Duckworth. “By offering a part of themselves.”
It’s a common misconception to believe that if a person chooses to partake in organ donation they can’t have a normal funeral. Duckworth said it’s not true.
He also said it’s not true that organ donors receive inadequate health care upon an emergency. Organ donation is not considered until the time of death.
“Donation is something that’s from the heart,” said Duckworth.