By ROMAN HILDEBRANDT
Gifts this season don't have to be store-bought. The National Kidney Foundation is encouraging people to 'give the gift of life.'
In the United States there are over 50,000 people in need of an organ or tissue transplant. 'Only half of them will ever receive transplants because not enough people are signing up to become organ donors,' according to a news release from the NKF of Utah.
In Utah alone, there are over 800 individuals waiting for an organ. Utah is part of a region of organ donations. There are five regions in the U.S. The donations for Utah typically come from within the region the state belongs to. Lance Madigan of the NKF said there was a case of a heart coming from Canada, but these cases are rare. Regions typically provide organs for their own recipients.
Non-donors have various reasons for not donating organs or tissues. Madigan said some potential donors believe the myth that doctors will remove organs in attempt to save a recipients life rather than trying to save the donor's life. Madigan reassured donors this would not happen.
'The physician's first responsibility is to the patient at hand,' he said.
The Kidney Foundation news release said organ donation is not considered until all possible efforts have been made to save the donor's life first.
The most common reason there is a shortage of organs and tissues for recipients is people do not think about donating their organs.
'People just haven't taken the time to do it,' Madigan said.
The process of donating begins by filling out a donor card. The donor box can even be checked on a driver's license. The potential donor must discuss his or her decision to give an organ or tissue with family members.
The success rate for transplants is steadily improving. The matching process is the key to having a recipient's body accept the new organ. As techniques for matching change and improve, more people are walking away from a transplant to live healthy lives.
Holly Smith of Dayton, Idaho is one example of a successful match. Smith didn't have to search very far or very long for a donor.
When Smith's own kidney's stopped functioning properly, her father donated one of his healthy kidneys. Smith's three kidneys allow her to work and live a life without sickness and hospitals.
Smith said if her father's organ had not been a good match she would have had to get on the waiting list.
'They told us it could've been anywhere from three months to two years,' she said.
Thinking about donating organs or tissues may not be on everyone's list this season, but for those who need the life-saving gift it is a constant concern.
Madigan said a single organ and tissue donor can benefit up to 25 different people.
The NKF encourages people to fill out a donor card for Christmas.
'This campaign offers you an opportunity to help thousands who are waiting and praying that they will survive to receive a new organ,' according to the NKF.