Organ Donation
For more information or to request a brochure about how you can become an organ donor and save a life, call Leo Trevino at 718-798-4285 or email: ltrevino@montefiore.org
The numbers are staggering. More than 100,000 people in the United States are in need of a transplant, yet just over 25 percent will receive vital organs. Among those waiting, thousands reside in New York, and due to the shortage of available organs, approximately 18 people across the nation die each day. The greatest hope for those left wondering and waiting is that a compatible heart, lung, kidney or liver will become available for them.
Montefiore's Commitment to Organ and Tissue Donation
In order to increase the odds for individuals in need of a transplant, Montefiore established the Montefiore Organ and Tissue Donation Initiative. This program was designed to heighten organ donation awareness among its 16,000 associates and 1.5 million Bronx residents willing to pass on the gift of life.
Since its inception in 2007, approximately 350 Montefiore employees have committed to be organ donors, and from 2007 to 2008, the New York Donor Network Registry grew from 36,325 Bronx residents to 45,529-an increase of more than 9,000 community members.
How Organ Donation Works
The New York Organ Donor Network is the local organ procurement organization that works closely with the Montefiore Organ and Tissue Donation Initiative. Operating under the UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing) umbrella, the New York Organ Donor Network determines organ allocation and matches through several variables such as blood type, age, severity of condition, etc.
When the appropriate time arrives to discuss end of life choices, a family specialist from the New York Organ Donor Network will interact with family members about a donor's wishes. Most families respect the donor's decision, but there are often questions and misperceptions about donating organs and tissue. For example, there is no age limit for registering as an organ donor.. Everyone is considered a potential donor, such as diabetics or those with glaucoma, until the New York Donor Network reviews the candidate and deems the donor viable or medically unsuitable.
The New York Donor Network determines if an individual is an appropriate candidate for donation, and all costs associated with the process are the responsibility of the recovery organization. Relatives of organ donor are not responsible for for any expenses involved in fulfilling their loved one's wishes.
To become an organ donor, please visit https://www.donatelife.net/register/.
