About Organ Donation

Organ transplantation is one of the most remarkable success stories in the history of medicine. Transplantation provides thousands of people a second chance at life — a life they would have never known without a transplant. However, a new patient joins the national transplant waiting list every 13 minutes, and 18 people die each day while waiting for a transplant. These numbers don't add up! The need for donors is much greater than the actual number of donors.

One donor has the potential to donate eight organs. Organs include heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver and intestines. Donation does not disfigure the body and does not interfere with having a funeral, including open casket services. There are many myths about donation. Please take the time to view the links below to help you understand what being an organ donor means. By becoming a donor you have the power to give others a second chance to fulfill their dreams.

The most important part of deciding to be a donor is to tell your family. Most Americans support donation, but few have told family members about their decision to donate. Even if you have signed a donor card or indicated your wish to donate on your driver's license, you need to tell your family because they are the ones who will be consulted before donation can take place. If you have any questions about organ donation, please call Texas Organ Sharing Alliance at (210) 614-7030 or toll free at 1-866-685-0277.

Below are several links we feel may help you make your decision.

Source: Texas Organ Sharing Alliance

About Tissue Donation

A tissue donation dramatically improves the quality of life for recipients and saves lives. Bone, ligament, tendons, vessels, heart valves, skin, and corneas are all tissue donations. Tissue transplantation offers huge benefits to many people, relieving their pain, helping them to see, to walk again, or to return to work. These are just a few examples of how tissue donation benefits recipients. By becoming a donor, you can help up to 80 people.

Some tissue, such as bone, can be donated during life. But most tissues are donated after death, by people who have expressed a wish during their lifetime to help others in this way. Many people can be considered for tissue donation after death. Unlike organs, tissues can be donated up to 24 hours after a person's heart has stopped beating. Donation does not disfigure the body and does not interfere with having a funeral, including open casket services.

Donation of tissues, especially in cases when organ donation is not possible, can offer the opportunity for relatives to fulfill their loved one's wishes. Many bereaved families take comfort in the knowledge that their loved one has helped others in this way.

If you would like to help others after your death, please make your wishes known to your family or next of kin.

Source: National Blood Service

About Bone Marrow Donation

Marrow is found in the cavities of the bodies bones. It resembles blood and contains stem cells, which produce red cells, white cells, and other blood components. These stem cells are needed by transplant patients to make healthy new marrow.

A stem cell transplant is used to treat many diseases. First, the patient is given radiation and/or chemotherapy to kill their disease cells. Then, donor stem cells are given to the patient through a vein. This looks like a blood transfusion. The transplanted donor cells begin to grow in the patient to make healthy red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets necessary to support life. Some examples of diseases treated with transplants include leukemia, lymphoma, aplastic anemia, inherited disorders, and many other life-threatening blood diseases.

In order to be matched for a bone marrow transplant, the donor's tissue type (not blood type) needs to closely match the recipient's. There is only a 30% chance of finding a match within the patient's family. If no one in the family is a match, doctors can search for a donor in the National Marrow Donor Program's Registry. A person of any race, ethnicity or gender who is 18 to 60 years old and in generally good health can become a volunteer stem cell donor.

The first step in becoming a donor is to have a blood test. This involves having a small amount of blood drawn and tested to determine the person's tissue type. This information is then entered into NMDP Registry by the local donor center. Only your tissue typing information is submitted to the NMDP, where it is cross-checked against the tissue type of patients needing a transplant. South Texas Blood and Tissue Center is an authorized donor center of the NMDP. For more information on joining the National Marrow Donor Program please call (210) 731-5555.

Source: South Texas Blood and Tissue Center, National Marrow Donor Program


Transplant Resources Why Donate Life? About Organ Donation About Tissue Donation About Bone Marrow Donation	Why Donate Life About Organ Donation Organ transplantation is one of the most remarkable success stories in the history of medicine. Transplantation provides thousands of people a second chance at life — a life they would have never known without a transplant. However, a new patient joins the national transplant waiting list every 13 minutes, and 18 people die each day while waiting for a transplant. These numbers don't add up! The need for donors is much greater than the actual number of donors. One donor has the potential to donate eight organs. Organs include heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver and intestines. Donation does not disfigure the body and does not interfere with having a funeral, including open casket services. There are many myths about donation. Please take the time to view the links below to help you understand what being an organ donor means. By becoming a donor you have the power to give others a second chance to fulfill their dreams. The most important part of deciding to be a donor is to tell your family. Most Americans support donation, but few have told family members about their decision to donate. Even if you have signed a donor card or indicated your wish to donate on your driver's license, you need to tell your family because they are the ones who will be consulted before donation can take place. If you have any questions about organ donation, please call Texas Organ Sharing Alliance at (210) 614-7030 or toll free at 1-866-685-0277. Below are several links we feel may help you make your decision. Religious Views on Organ Donation Facts, Family Discussion, Top 10 Myths About Donation Living Donation Q & A Source: Texas Organ Sharing Alliance Back to Top About Tissue Donation A tissue donation dramatically improves the quality of life for recipients and saves lives. Bone, ligament, tendons, vessels, heart valves, skin, and corneas are all tissue donations. Tissue transplantation offers huge benefits to many people, relieving their pain, helping them to see, to walk again, or to return to work. These are just a few examples of how tissue donation benefits recipients. By becoming a donor, you can help up to 80 people. Some tissue, such as bone, can be donated during life. But most tissues are donated after death, by people who have expressed a wish during their lifetime to help others in this way. Many people can be considered for tissue donation after death. Unlike organs, tissues can be donated up to 24 hours after a person's heart has stopped beating. Donation does not disfigure the body and does not interfere with having a funeral, including open casket services. Donation of tissues, especially in cases when organ donation is not possible, can offer the opportunity for relatives to fulfill their loved one's wishes. Many bereaved families take comfort in the knowledge that their loved one has helped others in this way. If you would like to help others after your death, please make your wishes known to your family or next of kin. Source: National Blood Service Back to Top About Bone Marrow Donation Marrow is found in the cavities of the bodies bones. It resembles blood and contains stem cells, which produce red cells, white cells, and other blood components. These stem cells are needed by transplant patients to make healthy new marrow. A stem cell transplant is used to treat many diseases. First, the patient is given radiation and/or chemotherapy to kill their disease cells. Then, donor stem cells are given to the patient through a vein. This looks like a blood transfusion. The transplanted donor cells begin to grow in the patient to make healthy red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets necessary to support life. Some examples of diseases treated with transplants include leukemia, lymphoma, aplastic anemia, inherited disorders, and many other life-threatening blood diseases. In order to be matched for a bone marrow transplant, the donor's tissue type (not blood type) needs to closely match the recipient's. There is only a 30% chance of finding a match within the patient's family. If no one in the family is a match, doctors can search for a donor in the National Marrow Donor Program's Registry. A person of any race, ethnicity or gender who is 18 to 60 years old and in generally good health can become a volunteer stem cell donor. The first step in becoming a donor is to have a blood test. This involves having a small amount of blood drawn and tested to determine the person's tissue type. This information is then entered into NMDP Registry by the local donor center. Only your tissue typing information is submitted to the NMDP, where it is cross-checked against the tissue type of patients needing a transplant. South Texas Blood and Tissue Center is an authorized donor center of the NMDP. For more information on joining the National Marrow Donor Program please call (210) 731-5555. Source: South Texas Blood and Tissue Center, National Marrow Donor Program Back to Top

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Why Donate Life

About Organ Donation

About Tissue Donation

About Bone Marrow Donation