Making a Difference Through Donation If one organ or tissue donor can save multiple lives, why are there not more people registered to donate? The need for organs and tissue is much greater than the number of available donors. For this reason, many individuals waiting for transplants never get a second chance at life. Organ donation is a charitable act that is free of charge, yet few people are registered as donors. Barriers such as lack of knowledge, myths and fear play a large role in donor registration. While losing a loved one is never easy, family members of donors often feel a sense of peace and closure knowing they are saving and improving lives through the gift of donation.
The demand for organ donors increases dramatically each year. In the United …show more content…
Blood and oxygen must still be flowing throughout the organ until the time of recovery to guarantee viability. To donate, the person must have died from an irreplaceable neurological injury, normally from aneurysms, strokes, or car accidents (Donate Life Staff “Organ Donation” 1). Most deceased donors are brain dead. Lack of oxygen in the brain causes the brain to swell. Swelling inside of the small space and the buildup of pressure is generally the cause of brain death. As the brain swells, it moves downward in the direction of the brain stem obstructing all upward blood flow. The swelling of the brain can happen in minutes or days, based on the injury. These donors suffer permanent loss of brain productivity, declaring them legally dead. A brain dead patient is still warm to the touch when on a ventilator. The ventilator pushes oxygen to the lungs making the chest rise and fall, while the heart continues to beat. Due to these living qualities, brain death can be confusing, especially for families faced with the unexpected death of a loved one. Determining brain death
The demand for organ donors increases dramatically each year. In the United …show more content…
Blood and oxygen must still be flowing throughout the organ until the time of recovery to guarantee viability. To donate, the person must have died from an irreplaceable neurological injury, normally from aneurysms, strokes, or car accidents (Donate Life Staff “Organ Donation” 1). Most deceased donors are brain dead. Lack of oxygen in the brain causes the brain to swell. Swelling inside of the small space and the buildup of pressure is generally the cause of brain death. As the brain swells, it moves downward in the direction of the brain stem obstructing all upward blood flow. The swelling of the brain can happen in minutes or days, based on the injury. These donors suffer permanent loss of brain productivity, declaring them legally dead. A brain dead patient is still warm to the touch when on a ventilator. The ventilator pushes oxygen to the lungs making the chest rise and fall, while the heart continues to beat. Due to these living qualities, brain death can be confusing, especially for families faced with the unexpected death of a loved one. Determining brain death