Passing on the gift of life.

The need for African American organ donors is on the rise

Do you know where you'll go after you die? The answer to this question goes beyond philosophical discussions and speaks to the importance of organ and tissue donation.

Of the nearly 73,000 people currently on the transplant waiting list, 41% are minorities. These figures should be of particular concern to African Americans, who make up nearly 25% of those awaiting transplants mainly because of life-threatening kidney diseases caused by poor diet and lifestyle.

The best matches occur when both the donor and recipient have similar ethnic backgrounds since they are more likely to share blood types and genetic makeup. Despite the need, the number of African American organ donors remains low because of misperceptions about organ donation. However, a number of groups are trying to increase public awareness.

"Becoming a donor goes beyond filling out the back of your driver's license or donor organ card," suggests Curtis Yeager, administrative coordinator of the Howard University Hospital Transplant Center in Washington, D.C. "You should sit down with your family to discuss your final wishes."

To prepare you for that very important conversation, log on to the National Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program's Website (www.nationalmottep.org), or the Coalition on Donation's Website (www.shareyourlife.org/promote.html). If one donor can save up to 75 people, imagine what more can do.

Facts on Ethnicity and Organ Donation

How many of the total patient registrations for organs are minorities?

Of the 72,956 transplants that are needed, 30,211 or 41% are nonwhite:

18,503 or 25% are African American

7,346 or 10% are Hispanic

3,153 or 4% are Asian

1,209 or 2% are Mixed or Other Ethnicity

Source: United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)

Myths About Organ Donation

Here is a list of the more common myths along with the actual facts:

Myth   Wealthy people and celebrities are moved to the
       top of the list faster than "regular" people.

Fact   The length of time it takes to receive a transplant
       is governed by many factors, including blood type,
       length of time on the waiting list, severity of illness,
       and other medical criteria.

Myth   Only heart, liver, and kidneys can be transplanted.

Fact   Needed organs include the heart, kidneys, pancreas,
       lungs, liver and intestines. Tissue that can be donated
       include the eyes, skin, bone, heart valves, and tendons.

Myth   I don't need to tell my family that I want to be a donor
       because I have it written in my will.

Fact   By the time your will is read, it will be too late to
       recover your organs.