Learn about Gift of Life Michigan, the organ, tissue and eye donation process, and answers to frequently asked questions.

1. Saving and
Improving LivesImproving Lives
Jennifer Tislerics
S i l E t & P t hi C di tSpecial Events & Partnerships Coordinator
jtislerics@giftoflifemichigan.org
734-922-1048 / 866-500-5801 ext. 1048

2. Mission: To maximize organ and tissue donationMission: To maximize organ and tissue donation
for transplantation through innovative programs
and exceptional service.
• Only federally designated organ and tissue recovery program in Michigan
• Incorporated in 1971 by Michigan transplant surgeons
• 24 hours a day, 365 days/year presence across the state
• Serves as a liaison between donors, hospitals and transplant centers.Serves as a liaison between donors, hospitals and transplant centers.
• Maintains the Michigan Organ Donor Registry, in cooperation with the
Secretary of State

3. Recovery
•Current hospital,
Th D ti P
Viral Testing &
Matching for Organs
O Gift f Lif ’
Current hospital,
surgical center or
funeral home
•Within 24 hours for
tissue/eye
donation
The Donation Process
Meet with or Call Next‐of‐Kin
•First Person Authorization, or
•Family approached if wishes unknown
• Organ: Gift of Life’s
histocompatibility lab
donation
•After recovery, the
body will be taken
to the funeral
home
Medical Suitability
•Ask questions to determine eligibility
•Family approached if wishes unknown
•Medical / Social History
Call to Gift of Life
•Ask questions to determine eligibility
•Go on‐site to review files for potential organ donors, talk to
hospital staff
Cli i l t i t i di ti ti t b b i d d ( d ti )• Clinical triggers met, indicating patient may be brain dead (organ donation)
• Patient has died, no cardio‐pulmonary circulation (tissue and eye donation)

4. Which Organs Can Be Donated?Which Organs Can Be Donated?
•Heart
•Lungs
• More than 122,000 Americans
are waiting for a transplantLungs
•Pancreas
•Liver
are waiting for a transplant
• 3,500 Michigan residents need
an organ transplant
•Kidneys
•Intestines
g p
• One donor can save up to 8 lives

5. Who Needs Organ Transplants?Who Needs Organ Transplants?
Organ transplantation is the last available option for people
with end stage organ failurewith end‐stage organ failure.
Sherry had a genetic cardiomyopathy.
Thanks to a generous Michigan family
Sherry received a heart transplant,
allowing her kids to keep their mom.

6. How is Tissue Used?How is Tissue Used?
Tissue grafts are widely used in the fields of sports medicine,
orthopedic surgery neurosurgery cardiovascular surgeryorthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, cardiovascular surgery,
plastic surgery, dentistry and podiatry.
Kristin received a bone transplant in her arm
(replacing cancerous bone) at age 13,
allowing her to continue playing sports and
following her dreams.
Thanks to her donor family Kristen is able toThanks to her donor family, Kristen is able to
serve her community as a police officer.

7. Which Tissues Can Be Donated?Which Tissues Can Be Donated?
•Bone
•Heart Valves
V i • Nearly 900 000 tissue transplants•Veins
•Tendons
•Nerves
• Nearly 900,000 tissue transplants
are performed each year in the
United States.
Nerves
•Skin
•Cornea
• One in 20 Americans will need
some type of tissue transplant.
•Sclera

8. How are Corneas Used?
With the transplant I was
How are Corneas Used?
p
able to play sports in high
school and college.
I am forever grateful to my
cornea donor.
‐Gina Gonzales

9. Th Gift f Si htThe Gift of Sight
BEFORE AFTERBEFORE AFTER

10. M ki DiffMaking a Difference
• More than 950 corneas are transplanted in
Michigan annually.
• The oldest cornea recipient was 103 years old.
• The youngest cornea recipient was 3 days old.The youngest cornea recipient was 3 days old.
• Corneas have been transplanted for more than
100 years!100 years!

11. Why Do Families Choose to Donate ?
• Provides a positive outcome in
Why Do Families Choose to Donate ?
• Provides a positive outcome in
response to an unexplainable loss.
• Offers a rare and unique opportunity toOffers a rare and unique opportunity to
save and improve the quality of
someone's life.
• Provides an avenue for the decedent to
"live on through the lives of others.”
l l• Leaves a lasting legacy.
Chase’s brothers created a triathlonChase’s brothers created a triathlon
team in his memory, promoting
donation in all 50 states.

12. How are donor families cared for?
 Michigan Donor Family Gathering
How are donor families cared for?
 Donor Family Advisory Committee
 Medallion & Certificate of Appreciationpp
 “Memories from Michigan” donor family quilts
 1 year anniversary card1 year anniversary card
 Newsletters
 Volunteer opportunitiesVolunteer opportunities
 Opportunity to write to recipients (may vary)

13. H d d i ffHow does organ donation affect
ethnic minority communities?
African Americans are more likely to…
•Have Increased Risk for:•Have Increased Risk for:
 Heart Disease
 High Blood Pressure
 Diabetes
•Find a genetically compatible match
Andrea received a kidney
within their own racial or ethnic groupAndrea received a kidney
and pancreas transplant.

14. H d d i ffHow does organ donation affect
ethnic minority communities?
African Americans areAfrican Americans are…
• 14% of the Michigan population
• 20% of the donors statewide• 20% of the donors statewide
• 47% of the kidney waiting list
Clarke Smith received a liverClarke Smith received a liver
transplant as an infant.

15. Join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry!Join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry!
DONORDONOR
At the Secretary
of Stateof State
Online

17. f ’ hIf I’m on the Donor Registry
will doctors work as hard to save my life?
Yes, absolutely! The medical
team trying to save your life isteam trying to save your life is
completely separate from the
transplant team. Gift of Life and
Eversight are not contacted until
every effort to save your life has
b dbeen pursued.

18. ld d ?Am I too old to donate?
Does my medical history prevent donation?
•There is no age limit to join the Donor Registry.
The oldest organ donor so far was 93, and the g
oldest tissue donor was 103.
•No medical condition prevents signing upNo medical condition prevents signing up.
People with cancer, hepatitis, diabetes,
hypertension, lupus, bad eye‐sight and even HIV
have donated organs, tissues or corneas.

19. Can minors join the Donor Registry?
Y b t til th t 18Yes, but until they turn 18,
their parents have the
ultimate say in whetherultimate say in whether
they become a donor.
Tim Parker became a donor 2 weeks
after his high school graduation.
Tim’s mom, Lynn, received some of his
bone during neck surgery.

20. Why should I join the Donor Registry?
When you register to become a donor, you
relieve your grieving family of having torelieve your grieving family of having to
make a decision when you die.
Having your wishes documented also
ensures that your decision to donate will beensures that your decision to donate will be
carried out, if medically possible.

21. Can I specify which organs/tissues I want to donate?
The Donor Registry does not permit specifying,The Donor Registry does not permit specifying,
because the types of organs and tissues used for
transplantation and research might change.
You can keep a signed, dated note detailing your
ifi i h Y f il h ld id thi tspecific wishes. Your family should provide this at
the time of donation.
•Specify your wishes on the
Peace of Mind Registryg y
www.MIpeaceofmind.org

22. Can I still have an open casket?
Yes! Organ, tissue and eye
d i d i fdonation need not interfere
with open casket memorials.
ll kNo one will know you were a
donor unless they are told.

23. Is there a cost to donate?
No, not at all. It won’t cost your estate
or your family anything if your organsor your family anything if your organs
and tissue are transplanted. All
procedures related to the donation are
covered by Gift of Life Michigan or
Eversight.

24. Does my religion support donation?
Most major religions in the U.S. approve
of organ tissue and eye donation andof organ, tissue and eye donation and
consider it one of the highest acts of
compassion and generosity.compassion and generosity.
Other religions support the individual
member’s personal decisionmember s personal decision.

25. Much more information is available:Much more information is available:
giftoflifemichigan.orgg g g
eversightvision.org
donatelife netdonatelife.net
donatelifemichigan.org
unos.org
mtf.org
organdonor.gov