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Show Feature SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS WEDNESDAY APRIL 24, 1996 Organ Donor Week: April By Barbara Pyles essen- Although transplanting tial organs from one body to another is one of the most incredible achievements of surgery today, (over 80 percent are successful) the number of Americans awaiting organs is still over 40,000. A new name is added to the national waiting list every 18 minutes. Because of the critical shortage of donors, thousands of these people life-savi- ng die every year. An estimated 450,000 Americans receive tissue transplants each year, ranging from sightsaving corneas to hip replacements and bone repair to heart As with organs, the valves need for donated tissue is growing at a much faster rate than donation. In part, this supply-deman- d problem is due to rapid advances in the science and practice of transplant medicine and the increase in medical applications for tissue. Population shifts also contribute to demand, especially the maturing of the Baby Boom generation and the improving health and longevity of older Americans. (Taken from Press Release, The Unsung Story). Madeline Gulla, Education Coordinator of Intermountain Organ Recovery System, was in Kanab recently. She spoke to members of the Kane County Hospital Auxiliary about the Pall Spectacular ik ik ik it ik it Grand MarshahLaVell Edwards Saturday, May 11, 1996 Kanab High School 8:45 p.m. Tickets: $5.50 in advance $6.50 at the door For tickets, contact Emma Houston, Mary Glazier, Kane County Travel Council, Creative Cuts, Zion Pharmacy or Quality Printing YOUTH: Don't miss the Close-u- p Chat with LaVell Edwards at the itikitikit-ikitikitikiti- Gazebo at 2:30. k Kl xjzA 7. ik it ik it 22-2- 7 organ and tissue donation pro- sometimes they cant be found gram, and urged them to sup- in time. In some states families port Organ Donor Week April can override the wishes of the 22-2deceased, so talk to your family about your wishes. to Craven, Mary According President of the Kane Country However, making a decision about volunteers organ and tissue donation Hospital Auxiliary, is difficult. It requires us to talk will be at Honeys IGA and Glaziers FoodTown on April 27 about death and dying. Many to help educate the public about people gain some comfort by tellbecoming organ and tissue do- ing family members of their nors, and to encourage people to wishes so the burden of making that decision will not be placed sign donor cards. Spread the word, says Gulla. on loved ones. Who can become a donor? EvOrgan transplant does make a difference. eryone is a potential organ and donor. At the time of tissue to decide become Many people a an organ and tissue donor so death, persons medical condisomebody else can have a chance tion will determine what organs at a normal life. They know in and tissues can be donated. The organs needed include their hearts that it is the right do. to the made have Once heart, kidneys, pancreas, they thing the decision, they fill out a donor liver, lungs and intestines. If card or indicate that decision on one person decides to donate their drivers license. Yet sur- their organs, six lives can be veys show that too few people saved. Tissues include eyes, share this information with skin, bone, heart valves and tendons. Depending on the exfamilies and friends. Although your donor card is tent of the donation, a single signed and witnessed, and your tissue donor can provide tissue drivers license donation form is for fifty people. a legal document, you must take Toomany Americans... know decilittle or nothing about tissue another step. Share your sion to be an organ and tissue donation and the donation prodonor with your family. Since cess. For example, donation of your family will be asked about solid organs heart, lungs, kidorgan donation at the time of neys, pancreas and liver can your death, they must support occur only when a patient is your commitment. Organ donor declared brain dead and dies cards are very important, but in a hospital where mechanical support ventilation is available to keep the organs viable... Transplantable tissue does not require a blood supply, so brain -death and artificial support are 'frkkitik&ik'kik'kik'bkk Centennial 16 fa ';v- ' . ,7 r Madeline Gulla, Education Coordinator of Intermountain Organ Recovery System, was in Kanab to talk about their organ and tissue donation program. not essential criteria (although organ donors can donate tissues as well). This means that individuals who die of cardiac (heart) failure or who die away from a hospital can be tissue donors. (Unsung Story) Many people may think the decision to become an organ and tissue donor will affect the quality of their medical care. The truth is, the doctors working to save a life are never involved in recovering the organs and tissues. Are there any costs to the family for donation? No. Organ and tissue donation costs nothing to (8j db the donors family or estate. The family is only responsible for hospital charges not involved with the donation. And the family may still have an open casket funeral, there is no significant changes in the appearance of the body. Another important issue is that all major religions approve of organ and tissue donations. They consider it an act of aty. People live agaih thdaka'to donors. For more information contact: The Utah Coalition on Organ, Eye, and Tissue Donation (800) 366-674- 4 033 0 GdM ik ik ik ik ik ik ik ik it ik it i The Kane County Hospital is proud of its home healthcare group. Robin Ford is director of nine employees who service Kane County and northern Arizona. They specialize in skilled nursing service, physical therapy, and home health aides. The service is one of96 agencies in the state, in which only 1 6 groups that qualified for part B limited inspection. |