Over 100,000 Americans need an organ transplant to save their life. But there’s good news. We all have the power to help.
The six organs that can be donated are the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, small intestine and pancreas.
With these gifts, one donor can save up to eight lives. Organ donors are remembered as heroes for giving generously to save others.
Six-year-old Beckett Arp was a dinosaur expert, gracious friend and curious boy who “lit up the world.” When he died suddenly, his parents said choosing to donate his organs and tissues was a “no-brainer.” With the support of their family and community, the Arps have found hope and comfort knowing Beckett continues to live on.
The following outlines how deceased organ donation takes place. Each donation is different, but in general, the organ donation process can take a few days.
Live On Nebraska is notified by hospitals when an individual has passed or their loved ones begin making end-of-life decisions. Several factors must be in place for organ donation to take place:
Tissue donation is still an option for individuals who do not meet organ donation criteria.
We first check the Donor Registry to see if the patient is a registered donor. If the patient is not registered, a Live On Nebraska staff member speaks with the patient’s legal decision-maker about the opportunity to authorize donation on the patient’s behalf.
Donors remain in the hospital throughout the organ donation process, continuously receiving oxygen through a ventilator. Each donation is different, but blood testing, administering antibiotics, performing X-rays and other diagnostic testing, and providing IV fluids to the donor are routine parts of the donation process.
In addition, a family member or other loved one close to the donor will be asked to answer many detailed, personal questions about the donor’s health and lifestyle.
These are necessary steps to determine what can be donated and help ensure a safe and successful transplant.
Organ recipients are identified through the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). This national system determines the best match by looking at factors such as blood type, size, medical urgency and distance from the donor.
If loved ones of the donor know someone who needs a transplant, they may request that their loved one’s organs be transplanted to a specific person. This is called directed donation. Recipients of a directed donation must be an active candidate on the transplant waiting list and be determined to be a medical match to the donor by the transplant team.
After recipients have been identified, the donation surgery is scheduled. The donor’s loved ones may choose to have family, friends and medical staff line the hallways of the hospital as the donor is taken to surgery. This is called an honor walk. A moment of silence is also observed prior to the surgery to honor the donor and their generosity.
After surgery, the donated organs are taken to the recipient’s transplant center and transplanted very quickly. Tissue donation is completed following organ donation. After organ and tissue donation are completed, the family’s chosen funeral home assumes care of the donor.
Our donation and family advocates guide families through the donation process, answering questions, creating keepsakes of the donor and providing any support that’s needed. Our Aftercare Program also provides grief support to families and honors the donor following donation.
