Transplantation is one of the most remarkable success stories in the
history of medicine. But despite continuing advances in medicine and
technology, the need for organs and tissue is vastly greater than the
number available for transplantation.
At
the Texas Transplant Center, we join in recognizing April as National
"Donate Life" Month. From the front line of transplant surgery and
transplant medicine, we see how donations transform lives. With more
than four decades of transplant history and 3,000+ patients, UTMB has
been a pioneering force in the field. But without organ donation, none
of it would be possible.
Transplantation gives hope to thousands of people with organ failure
and provides many others with active and renewed lives. Please explore
this page to learn more, and contact us if you have any questions.
UNOS has developed fact sheets on a range of organ donation and transplantation topics. Take a moment to get a deeper understanding of how organ donation works, and why it's so important:
Although there have been advances in medical technology and donation, the demand for organ, eye and tissue donation still vastly exceeds the number of donors. For more information, read the summary below or create a detailed data report on the UNOS Web site.
- More than 124,000 men, women and children currently need life-saving organ transplants.
- Every 10 minutes another name is added to the national organ transplant waiting list.
- An average of 21 people die each day from the lack of available organs for transplant.
- According to research, 98% of all adults have heard about organ donation and 86% have heard of tissue donation.
- 90% of Americans say they support donation, but only 30% know the essential steps to take to be a donor.
www.unos.org
Created and maintained by United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), www.unos.org is the organ transplantation information resource for medical professionals and the general public. UNOS brings together medicine, science, public policy and technology to facilitate every organ transplant performed in the United States.
www.donatelife.net
Donate Life America, comprised of national organizations and 50 state teams across the United States, was founded by the transplant community in 1992 to educate the public about organ, eye and tissue donation. It offers information, true life stories, and educational material to inform and inspire the public.