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More than 4,000 people on the waiting list die each year because a kidney is not available. In January last year, The Living Bank expanded its services to include education for living donors by establishing The Living Donor Bank. With more awareness and education, we believe the loss of life can be reduced.
In 2009, 46 individuals contacted The Living Donor Bank about becoming a donor. Our coordinator/counselor, Michele Guss Zamora is working with 33 to educate and counsel them. And two kidney donors have enabled their recipients to live - and to live a higher quality of life free of dialysis.
It truly is "an amazing" when someone makes a commitment to be a living donor. The process is a long and extremely complex one that requires perseverance. Many obstacles must be met and overcome. For those who do donate, they are "an amazing" example of generosity that expects no reward.
Currently, fewer people are registering to leave their organs after death. At this time of year when many religions observe days of significance, and we all look ahead to a new year with hope, the good news is there is heightened awareness about living donation. Frequent news stories have appeared in the media this year about living donation, paired donation (when two unmatched pairs "swap" kidneys) and donation chains (multiple kidney transplants triggered by donor - someone with no designated recipient). If you would like additional information about living donation, please contact us at info@livingbank.org.
Carole Keeney Harrington
