April 18 – 25 is National Organ & Tissue Donation Awareness Week

April 18-25 is National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week. At this very moment, almost 4,500 Canadians are on a wait list for a new organ and a second chance at life. Thousands more are waiting for a tissue transplant. The need is great and there is a role for you to make a difference.

Did you know that one donor has the potential to offer eight organs for transplant? This includes the heart, two kidneys, a liver, two lungs, a pancreas and the small bowel. Several kinds of tissue can also be donated, like bone, cornea, heart valves, islet cells and skin. Almost everyone can help save and improve the lives of others through tissue donation. In some situations, living donors can donate one of their kidneys or part of their liver.

Since 1973, a total of 4,383 organ transplants have been done at London Health Sciences Centre and the Children’s Hospital. In 2009 alone, 166 transplants were done for patients needing a kidney, liver, heart or combined kidney-pancreas. In London, we are fortunate the organ donation rate is almost twice that of anywhere in Canada and is the highest in the province. However, this is still not enough to meet the needs of our patients.

The decision to donate organs and tissues after death is a personal one. Once you have made your decision, it is important to make your family aware of your donation wishes. To help raise awareness, you can discuss organ donation with your friends, wear a green ribbon to show your support, or take part in the ‘Leave Mine Behind’ t-shirt campaign.

You can also register as a donor by completing the Gift of Life consent form. By consenting to become an organ and tissue donor, you may be able to help save many lives.

Visit LHSC’s Multi-Organ Transplant Program website to find out more about ways that you can show your support for organ and tissue donation.