How old is my organ

Today, more than , people of all ages are on the waiting list for an organ. At the same time, more than 99 million people in the U. But, more than 20 percent believe that they are too old to register as an organ donor. The website www. But even in imperfect health, these individuals can help others survive organ failure, heal from burns or see again. Recently, about 1, adults ages 50 and older attending health workshops hosted by the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan NKFM were asked about organ donation.

Only 37 percent said they intended to be organ donors. Loughery, along with organ donation advocates and University of Michigan public health researchers, published the study in Archives of Transplantation.

Adding more people to the list can increase the number of organs available and shorten the wait times for those who need a new heart, lung, liver or kidney to live. Study findings highlight a need to encourage organ donation consent among older adults.

Social media and online messaging have led to some success in increasing organ donation, but most older adults still are not using Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Beyond increasing organ donation rates, the researcher consortium is learning what keeps some groups from registering. The current study stems from baseline data gathered for Leave a Legacy of Life, a clinical study that began in and evaluated the effectiveness of providing peer education about organ donation to people ages 50 and older with a chronic health condition. This federally designated not-for-profit agency has coordinated organ and tissue donation and offered help to the donor families in the northern three-quarters of Illinois and northwest Indiana since Gift of Hope has helped arrange 23, organ transplants and continues to work with hospitals that serve 12 million people in an effort to save even more lives.

Adding your name to a donor list allows Gift of Hope to reach even more of the thousands on the transplant waiting list. No matter your age, take the time to become a registered donor.

The process takes a few minutes, but it can mean years of life to someone in the future. June 2nd, Register today, no matter how many birthdays you have celebrated Since records started being maintained by UNOS in , there have more than , organ transplant operations performed in the United States. More Articles. Every day people experience life-altering medical improvements through tissue transplants from organ and tissue donors Every morning more than 3, Illinois residents and 1, Indiana residents wake up hoping that There are so many ways to memorialize a loved one who has passed.

Which organs and tissues can come from living donors? Understanding the need Every 10 minutes Being on a waiting list for an organ transplant is stressful. With each passing day Organ and tissue donation is a gift that costs you nothing but is priceless for Organ and tissue donation is a clinical, emotional and complex process.

Saying yes to donation is courageous and generous, but. As a mother and a friend, Vicki Olds has a storehouse of love that knows no bounds.

Her actions are.