September 23, 2016 Meeting Recap

Currently, there are around 5500 people in the state of Georgia waiting for an organ with 70% of those looking for a kidney.  In Georgia, there is a minimum five year wait list and if you are on the wait list, you have the option to say yes or no if you want the organ.  Memorial Health is the #2 recovery hospital in the state.  Once the donor family has agreed to donate, the medical team has 48 hours to recover and donate the organ.  The most common transplant is tissue to repair an ACL.  

 

Amanda's job as an educational specialist is to make sure the public knows what is involved in organ and tissue donation.  Even though you might be an organ donor, it does not mean you will actually be able to donate any organs.  In order for a donation to work, many variables have to line up - blood type, height, weight.  And for kidney's, you also need genetic testing which means it is best to donate within same ethnic group.  If someone passes away in Georgia and they are an organ donor, then the organ is tried to match locally, regionally, state and finally on the national level.  LifeLink is funded partly through the government and partly through tissue donation which is a for profit business.  The 297 people in the state of Georgia who donated organs resulted in over 800 transplants.  Out of the 300 individuals who opted for tissue transplants, 4000 people were the beneficiary.  Amanda encouraged everyone to educate their families on their wishes regarding organ and tissue donation as well as lead a healthy lifestyle.