Organ Donation
Many of us have been impacted by organ donation, either personally or through a loved one. More still will continue to be impacted in the future. In fact, more than 43,000 transplants were performed in 2023 alone, and more than 100,000 men, women and children are still waiting to receive the gift of life.
Donation is a way for our heroes to leave a legacy and continue living through the recipients who receive their precious gifts. We hope the resources below will help you make an informed decision about registering to be an organ, eye and tissue donor.
The vast majority of Americans support donation as an opportunity to let their organs and tissue give life and health to others when they no longer need them.
ONE organ donor can save the lives of eight people.
Transplantable Organs
Heart
Replaces a failing or non-functioning heart
Lungs
Replaces failing lungs due to cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, COPD and other lung problems
Intestines
Replaces bowel due to short bowel syndrome caused by necrotizing enterocolitis, Crohn's disease and other problems
Liver
Replacement for people with end-stage liver disease, hepatitis or cirrhosis
Kidneys
Saving patients with kidney failure and removing them from dialysis
Pancreas
Treats diabetes that cannot be controlled by insulin, diet and exercise
Frequently Asked Questions
Today a severe shortage of organs for transplantation exists in our country. Despite continuing efforts at public education, misconceptions and inaccuracies about donation persist. It is a tragedy if even one person decides against donation because they do not know the truth. Following is a list of the most common questions about donation and transplantation.
If emergency room doctors know you're an organ donor, will they work as hard to save you?
If you are sick or injured and admitted to the hospital, the number one priority is to save your life. Organ and tissue recovery takes place only after all efforts to save your life have been exhausted and death has been legally declared. The medical team treating you is completely separate from the organ recovery team.
Does certain history of medical illness mean your organs or tissues are unfit for donation?
At the time of death, the appropriate medical professionals will review your medical and social history to determine whether you will be a candidate for donation. Each potential donor is evaluated on a case by case basis. With recent advances in transplantation, more people have the opportunity to become donors. LifeShare suggests that you do not rule yourself out as a potential donor due to illness, let the medical professionals determine if you are a suitable candidate.
Am I too old to be a donor?
People of all ages and medical histories will be considered as potential donors. Your medical condition at the time of death will determine which organs and tissue can be donated, not your age. Don't rule yourself out as a potential donor due to age, let the medical professionals determine if you are a suitable candidate.
Does my family have to pay for organ and tissue donation?
No. The donor family is never billed for expenses related to donation. LifeShare pays for all procedures, tests or evaluations needed following legal death for the donation process. Funeral costs remain the responsibility of the family.
Does organ and tissue donation disfigure the body or change the way it looks in the casket?
LifeShare works closely with all state funeral homes to implement the best practices and techniques in donation with the hope of returning your loved one to you with minimal if any change to their appearance.
Do celebrities and people with money get transplanted more quickly than those without?
No. Matching organs to recipients is based strictly on medical criteria and has nothing to do with notoriety or wealth. The process for matching a recipient with a donor is dependent upon how sick an individual is and who is the best match for the organ.
Do some religions prohibit donation?
All major organized religions approve of organ and tissue donation and consider it an act of charity.
Can your family override your wish to be a donor?
Because of our state's First Person Consent law, it is not necessary to get permission from the family if a person has expressed his or her desire to be a donor in a "document of gift", such as a driver's license, state ID card or enrollment in Oklahoma's online donor registry, the LifeShare Donor Registry. We strongly believe that a person's wish to donate must be honored, if medically possible. Organ and tissue recovery coordinators will always talk to the family about the donation before it takes place. Oklahomans are urged to share their decision to be a donor with their families.
If you are under 18, you may declare your intent to be a donor in any document of gift, however, permission from a parent or guardian must be obtained before donation can actually take place.
Matching Donors
United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is the private, non-profit organization that manages the nation’s organ transplant system under contract with the federal government. Every lifesaving organ transplant is managed through UNOS’ computer system, which matches donors with potential transplant recipients 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. UNOS collaborates with all organ procurement organizations (OPOs) and transplant centers in the United States.
UNOS is involved in many aspects of the organ transplant and donation process:
- Managing the national transplant waiting list, matching donors to recipients 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
- Maintaining the database that contains all organ transplant data for every transplant event that occurs in the U.S.
- Brings together the transplant community to develop policies that make the best use of the limited supply of organs and give all patients a fair chance at receiving the organ they need, regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, religion, lifestyle or financial/social status.
- Monitors every organ match to ensure organ allocation policies are followed.
What determines who will receive an organ?
Many factors are used to match organs with patients in need are the same for all organs.
Waiting List
Before an organ is allocated, all transplant candidates on the waiting list that are incompatible with the donor because of blood type, height, weight and other medical factors are automatically screened from any potential matches. Then, UNOS’ computer system determines the order that the other candidates will receive offers.
Geography
Organ transplants are most successful when preservation and transport time are short. The matching system considers the distance between donor and transplant hospitals. In general, local candidates get organ offers before those listed at more distant hospitals.
Right Size
Proper organ size is critical to a successful transplant, which means that children often respond better to child-sized organs. Although pediatric candidates have their own unique scoring system, children essentially are first in line for other children’s organs.
Living Donation
At LifeShare, we participate in the process of organ recovery to give donor heroes an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy. Though we support and celebrate living donation, anyone interested in being a living donor should connect with their physician and local transplant center.
To help someone through living donation, talk to them and the transplant program where the person is listed. To be a non-directed living donor, contact a transplant center to find out if they have this type of donation program.
OU Health Transplant Institute
Ascension St. John Kidney Transplant Center
Integris Health Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute
For more information on becoming a living kidney donor, contact the National Kidney Donation Organization.