The Gift of Life: Honoring the Heroes Behind Organ Donation
Organ and tissue transplantation is one of modern medicine’s most profound achievements, offering renewed hope and life to countless individuals. Central to this process are the selfless donors who decide to gift parts of themselves. Every organ and tissue donation embodies an act of profound generosity. It is truly the gift of life. Donors and their families, often amid personal tragedy, choose to extend life to others. This altruistic act not only saves lives but also serves as a beacon of hope and humanity. Recognizing and honoring these donors is essential. Their contributions form the backbone of transplantation medicine. For professional case managers, understanding the intricacies of transplantation is vital to support patients effectively and advocate for increased awareness and participation in donation programs.
Living donation offers an alternative avenue to address organ shortages. In 2024, over 7,000 living donor transplants were performed in the U.S., primarily involving kidneys and, increasingly, liver segments. Living donors undergo rigorous medical and psychological evaluations to ensure suitability and safety. They are transplant heroes, and their contributions significantly reduce waiting times and improve outcomes for recipients.
Misunderstandings about organ donation can hinder individuals from registering as donors. Common myths include beliefs that medical professionals won’t work as hard to save registered donors, or that certain health conditions or age disqualify individuals from donating. In reality, medical teams prioritize saving lives, and many health conditions do not preclude donation. People of all ages can be potential donors. Dispelling these myths through education is crucial to increasing donor registrations.
Despite the progress in transplantation numbers, a significant gap remains between the number of available organs and the patients in need. This disparity results in approximately 17 people dying each day while awaiting a transplant.
As of December 2024, over 104,000 individuals in the United States were waiting for organ transplants. Kidneys are the most in-demand organ. There are approximately 90,000 individuals on the kidney transplant waiting list. Americans wait an average of four years for a kidney transplant. Despite advancements, the gap between available organs and patients in need remains significant. In 2024, the U.S. achieved a milestone by performing over 48,000 organ transplants, marking the highest number recorded in a single year. However, the demand continues to outpace supply, emphasizing the need for increased donor registration and awareness.
The number of transplants performed in 2024 were:
- Kidney transplants: 27,759 procedures, a 1.6% increase over 2023.
- Liver transplants: 11,458 procedures, representing a 7.5% growth over the previous year.
- Heart transplants: 4,572 procedures, virtually unchanged from 2023.
- Lung transplants: 3,340 procedures, marking a 10.4% increase over 2023.
As of December 2024, the total number of candidates on the transplant waiting list was approximately 104,753. That includes:
- Kidney: 90,465 candidates
- Liver: 9,383 candidates
- Heart: 3,571 candidates
- Lung: 934 candidates
- Pancreas: 854 candidates
- Intestine: 188 candidates
- Heart/Lung: 40 candidates
Advancements in transplantation science are continually evolving. Xenotransplantation—transplanting organs from other species—has made headlines. In a groundbreaking case, a woman received a gene-edited pig kidney, marking a significant step in addressing organ shortages. While still experimental, such innovations hold promise for the future of transplantation.
Several organizations are dedicated to promoting and supporting organ, tissue and eye donations. Donate Life is dedicated to saving and healing lives through organ donation. Since 1992, Donate Life America has focused on educating, inspiring and activating the public to register their decision to be organ, eye or tissue donors. Individuals can register online or, in most states, when renewing their driver’s license. The decision to register is personal. April is recognized as National Donate Life Month, encouraging awareness and registration. During this month, activities such as flag-raising ceremonies, walks to raise awareness and presentations from transplant patients are sponsored at transplant medical centers. These activities bring awareness and celebrate families who, in their hardest moments, choose to give hope. It honors those who have donated an organ as well as recognizing those who have received a transplant, their families and caregivers. Recognition is also given to the individuals at motor vehicle departments registering as organ donors, healthcare professionals and donation partners who make donations possible, and those registered to save and heal lives.
Network for Hope is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing awareness and support for organ, tissue and eye donation. Through community outreach, education and advocacy, they aim to honor, save and heal lives by empowering individuals and expanding the impact of donation. One of their key initiatives is the Donate Life Scholarship program, which supports high school seniors who actively promote organ donation awareness. In 2025, two scholarships of $2,000 each will be awarded to students residing in specific counties in Ohio. Beyond scholarships, Network for Hope offers various programs to support donor families and recipients, including grief support, opportunities to honor donors and community events. Their mission is to transform the future of organ, tissue and eye donation through collaboration, innovation and authenticity. For more information or to get involved, visit their official website: https://www.networkforhope.org/.
The Student Organ Donation Advocates (SODA) is an organization that empowers high school, college and graduate students to lead organ, eye and tissue donation education and registration efforts on their campuses. Founded in 2014 at Washington University in St. Louis, SODA has grown to encompass over 75 chapters across 32 Donation Service Areas (DSAs) in the United States. SODA’s mission is to reduce barriers for students to become advocates for organ donation, providing them with the resources and support needed to educate their peers and communities. Since its inception, SODA chapters have educated over 124,500 individuals about the importance of donation and have registered nearly 8,000 people as organ, eye and tissue donors. SODA supports student-led chapters that organize events such as donor registration drives, educational workshops and awareness campaigns. In collaboration with the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO), SODA hosts the Campus Challenge, a competition encouraging chapters to engage in activities that promote organ donation awareness and registration. In addition, SODA has established partnerships with organizations like Donate Life America to provide students with access to educational resources, training and networking opportunities. Through its student-led initiatives and collaborative partnerships, SODA continues to play a vital role in promoting organ, eye and tissue donation awareness across educational institutions nationwide. Students interested in starting a SODA chapter or participating in organ donation advocacy can find resources and support on SODA’s official website: www.sodanational.org.
Organizations like these play a pivotal role in promoting organ, eye and tissue donation by encouraging individuals to register as donors and educate the public about the importance of donation. Registration to be an organ donor can be completed online or when renewing a driver’s license, making the process accessible and straightforward.
The role of professional case managers is integral to the transplantation process. We guide patients through complex medical evaluations, coordinate care among multidisciplinary teams and provide emotional support and education for patients and their families. By staying informed about the latest developments in transplantation and addressing patient concerns, case managers ensure that individuals receive comprehensive and compassionate care throughout their transplant journey. As the demand for transplants continues to grow, the role of professional case managers in educating, advocating and supporting patients becomes increasingly vital. By dispelling myths, promoting donor registration and guiding patients through their transplant journeys, case managers contribute significantly to saving lives and enhancing the quality of life for countless individuals.
It’s all about life. And hope.
Sending thoughts and hope to those awaiting a transplant.
Please consider becoming a donor. RegisterMe.org
REFERENCES
Donate Life America. (n.d.). National observances and celebrations. https://donatelife.net/how-you-can-help/national-observances-celebrations/
Donate Life America. (n.d.). What is living donation? https://donatelife.net/donation/types/living-donation/
Health Resources and Services Administration. (2024). Organ donation statistics. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://www.organdonor.gov/learn/organ-donation-statistics
Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. (2024). Organ transplants exceeded 48,000 in 2024, a 3.3 percent increase from 2023. https://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/news/organ-transplants-exceeded-48-000-in-2
Scipioni, J. (2024, March 21). U.S. performs first-ever pig kidney transplant in living patient. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/21/us-performs-first-ever-pig-kidney-transplant
Statista. (2024). Number of organ transplant candidates in the U.S. as of December 2024, by organ. https://www.statista.com/statistics/398499/number-of-us-organ-transplant-can
United Network for Organ Sharing. (2024). U.S. surpassed 48,000 organ transplants in 2024. https://unos.org/media-resources/releases/u-s-surpassed-48000-organ-transpla
United Network for Organ Sharing. (2024). Data. https://unos.org/data/
, MSN, MS, RN, CCM, FCM, is the President of the Case Management Society of America (CMSA). She is a board-certified transplant case manager with extensive experience including nursing education, administration, team leadership and case management.
Janet holds a Master of Science in Nursing from West Virginia University and a Master of Science in Adult Education from Marshall University. Her contributions to the field have been recognized with the CMSA National Award of Service Excellence and the Southern Ohio Valley CMSA Case Management Leadership Award. In 2022, she was honored as a Fellow of Case Management (FCM).
An active and dedicated member of CMSA at both the national and local levels, Janet continues to serve the Southern Ohio Valley Chapter, where she recently completed her fifth term as President. She has been a frequent presenter at CMSA Annual Conferences, delivering concurrent sessions and poster presentations on key topics in case management.
Janet is also a passionate writer and has contributed extensively to industry publications, including CMSA Today, CareManagement and the Professional Case Management Journal. Her thought leadership extends to the CMSA blog, where several of her articles have ranked among the top five most-read blogs in 2022.
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