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pril
is National Donate Life Month, and at Children’s, an extensive
network of caregivers works hard to make each transplantation successful
and care for every patient waiting for a transplant. “The
team includes a transplant physician, surgeon, coordinator, nutritionist,
social worker, ICU staff, and staff on 8 North, the solid organ
transplant floor,” says Jennifer Lo, Transplant
Program administrator. “We‚re supported by a rigorous
program of pre- and post-operative care, and laboratory and radiology
services.”
According to the New England Organ Bank (NEOB), 17 people die each
day before the necessary organ becomes available. “We see
patients all the time who illustrate the incredibly touching human
side of waiting for a transplant,” says Camilla Cook,
RN, 8 North. “We want people to think about becoming organ
donors because it is a gift beyond value.”
For information on becoming on organ donor, please contact the
NEOB at (800) 446-6362 or visit their Web site at www.neob.org.
NEOB is part of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network,
which is administered by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS).
According to UNOS:
- There were 84,534 candidates on organ donor waiting lists in
the U.S. on April 12, 2004.
- There have been 2,206 transplants done in 2004.
- Every 13 minutes another name is added to the national transplant
waiting list.
- From 1993 to 2002, nearly 58% of all people on organ donor
waiting lists were male
- In 2002, nearly 3/4 of all people on an organ donor waiting
list were between ages 35-64.
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