Donation of organs and tissues has rapidly increased over the last 5 years. Here in San Diego we have several hospitals that received awards in 2007 for their success in increasing organ donation rates at their hospitals: Kaiser Permanente, Scripps Mercy Hospital, Sharp Hospital, and Palomar Hospital. That means that San Diego citizens are remembering what a wonderful gift an organ or tissue donation can be.
Almost 100,000 people in this country are awaiting organs. Organs that are in demand are kidneys, livers, hearts, lungs, eyes, pancreases, and intestines. Tissues that can be used are bone marrow, skin, tendons, ligaments, heart valves, and connective tissue. Some people think no one would want any of their organs or tissues after they are done with them but the fact is that corneas and other tissues can sometimes be used regardless of your age.
You don’t even have to die to be an organ donor. Many people have given family members and even complete strangers a kidney. To donate bone marrow you can register as a bone marrow donor and be put in a national registry. Here in San Diego the entities handling tissue and organ donation are Life Sharing,