Clayton Tarabanovic was very lucky to get a kidney transplant.
More than half of the people who need an organ transplant in the
United States die before they get one. These deaths are needless.
They happen only because too many Americans bury their organs when
they die instead of sharing in the gift of life.
Clayton Tarabanovic was very lucky to get a kidney transplant. More than half of the people who need an organ transplant in the United States die before they get one. These deaths are needless. They happen only because too many Americans bury their organs when they die instead of sharing in the gift of life.
The shortage of human organs for transplant operations kills over 6,000 Americans every year. The solution is simple – if you don’t agree to donate your organs when you die, then you go to the back of the waiting list if you ever need an organ to live.
A grassroots group of organ donors called LifeSharers is making this idea a reality one member at a time.
LifeSharers is a nonprofit network of organ donors. Members agree to donate their organs when they die, but they give fellow members “first dibs” on their organs. This creates a pool of organs available first to members. The existence of this pool gives other people an incentive to sign donor cards and join the network and this incentive grows stronger as the network expands.
Anyone who wants to donate their organs to others who have agreed to donate theirs can join LifeShare at www.lifesharers.com. Membership is free.
LifeSharers has been in operation for 20 months and has attracted 2,004 members in 49 states and the District of Columbia, including 332 members in California.
David J. Undis,
Executive Director
LifeSharers
