Donating organs is very important as it can save many lives. National Donate Life Month aims to spread awareness on the importance of donating organs and tissue. Organs that can be transplanted to save lives can include the heart, pancreas, kidneys, liver, small bowels, and lungs. Tissue that is donated and transplanted includes the eyes/corneas, bones, heart valves, and skin grafts. Many people are currently awaiting organ and tissue donations and by becoming a donor, you can save or improve many lives.
Some examples of how organ and tissues can change and save lives include heart valves being transplanted to children who are born with heart defects or they can be transplanted to adults who have damaged heart valves. Skin can be transplanted and used to help burn victims with healing. It can help with pain and scarring along with stopping infections. Bone can be replaced where other bone has been removed because of illness or injuries. It will also help people with mobility. Tendons can also be donated to assist people’s mobility by rebuilding the damaged ones. The cornea of the eye can also be donated to rebuild the damaged part of the eye and restore eyesight to those who have damage due to disease and injury.
According to organdonor.gov, “117,297 people are waiting for an organ and 18 people will die each day waiting for an organ.” Of these thousands of people awaiting an organ donation, 1,800 are children who need kidneys and livers. These numbers are astounding. That is why awareness is so important. If more people became donors, they would be able to save many more lives. Just one donor can save eight lives.