Organ & Tissue Donation

1. Corneas:
Allow light to enter eye.
Transplant restores sight to those with corneal damage.

2. Skin:
Protects the body from dehydration, injury and infection.
Used as treatment for burn patients.
Decreases pain, infection, scarring, heat and fluid loss.

3. Lungs:
Organs of respiration
Transplant treats cystic fibrosis, emphysema, or other end-stage lung disease.

4. Heart:
Pumps blood to all body systems.
Transplant is treatment for end-stage heart disease.

5. Valves:
Direct flow of blood through heart.
Transplant replaces diseased heart valves.

6. Liver:
Instrumental in energy regulation, makes proteins, removes waste from blood.
Transplant is treatment for end-stage liver disease.

7. Bones:
Supports the body, protects vital organs.
Used in facial reconstruction, prevention of amputation, correction of birth defects, cancer treatment, spinal fusion and oral surgery.

8. Cartilage / Ligaments:
Connective tissue.
Used in facial and other reconstructive surgery.

9. Veins:
Transport blood.
Used for coronary by-pass surgery to replace diseased or blocked arteries.

10. Kidneys:
Extract waste from the blood and produce important hormones.
Transplant eliminates need for dialysis for patients with end-stage kidney disease.

11. Pancreas:
Secretes enzymes necessary for digestion, secretes insulin that helps regulate blood sugar.
For treating diabetes, transplant eliminates the need for insulin injections, reduces risk of losing sight or limb.

12. Intestines:
Digestive organ that absorbs water, electrolytes and nutrients for the body.
Transplant is treatment for malabsorption, a disease that prevents the absorption of necessary nutrients (most common in young children).