Organ Donations Save Lives
Green is the symbol for life. Appropriately, the green ribbon is the symbol of how we can save lives.
Over 4000 Canadians are awaiting a transplant and unfortunately more than 200 Canadians died last year waiting transplant.
From www.cihi.ca:
- The deceased organ donor rate in Canada in 2018 was 20.6 donors per million population, an increase of 42% since 2009. The living donor rate was 15.0 donors per million population, a decrease of 2% since 2009.
- In 2018, a total of 2,782 transplant procedures (all organs) were performed in Canada, an increase of 33% since 2009.
- At the end of 2018, there were 4,351 people on a waiting list for an organ transplant, including 2,890 who were active on the list. In total, 223 people died while waiting for a transplant.
I believe that many more Canadians want to donate, but life gets in the way and we forget to sign our donor’s card and have the discussion with our loved ones. If you are okay with donating, take the opportunity during this awareness week to sign your card and discuss it with your family. Someone may be counting on you.
Things I didn’t know…
- To be a deceased organ and tissue donors, you must die in a hospital with your body supported by a ventilator. If you die at home or in the community, you cannot donate your organs.
- Organ and tissue donors, can donate after death the heart, liver, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, and small bowel.
- Living donors can provide a kidney or part of their liver, as well as bone marrow.
- Almost everyone can donate tissues within certain time limits after death.
- Tissues that can be donated include corneas from eyes, heart valves, bones and skin.
- Transplantation success rates are excellent. Between 80-95 per cent of patients are doing well one year after their transplant.
Beverly’s Hot Tips for Celebrating National Organ and Tissue Donors Awareness Week:
- Having “organ donor” noted on your driver’s license or carrying a donor card or provincial health card is not all you have to do to become a donor. While a signed donor card and a driver’s license with an “organ donor” designation are legal documents, organ and tissue donation is always discussed with family members prior to the donation. For that reason, it is very important that you discuss your wishes with your family.
- Don’t let the busyness of life get in the way of saving a live.
If you have some strategies to share – comment on this posting!
Additional Postings:
Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness