Jennifer Moe
Director of Communications/PR
Donor Alliance
303-329-4747

DONOR ALLIANCE URGES LATINA/O COMMUNITY TO REGISTER TO BE ORGAN AND TISSUE DONORS THEN SHARE DECISION WITH THEIR FAMILIES

Hispanic Heritage Month Provides Opportunity to Discuss Impact of Organ and Tissue Donation

DENVER – October 12, 2009 – More than 400 Latina/os in Colorado and Wyoming are currently waiting for an organ transplant; nearly sixty-nine percent are in need of a kidney. Because of diseases like diabetes and hypertension which can lead to end-stage renal disease, the need for organ transplants in this community continues to rise. By the end of this year, it is expected that more than 100 new Latina/o patients will be added to the local organ transplant waiting list.

“Annually, about 18 percent of the transplants that occur in Colorado are received by a member of the Latina/o community,” stated Sue Dunn, CEO of Donor Alliance. “In most cases, organs matched within the same ethnic population tend to have higher success rates. Consequently, by increasing the number of Latina/os registering to be organ and tissue donors, our hope is for more Latina/os to receive lifesaving organ transplants, thus coming off the waiting list in our region.”

“It is our focus during Hispanic Heritage Month to encourage the Latina/o community to talk about organ and tissue donation with their families,” noted Dunn. “With the increasing need for organ transplants in this community, we want Latina/os in our state to be empowered to make the decision to donate life and have their wishes honored.”

Some common myths associated with organ and tissue donation may be the deterrent that keeps members of the Latina/o community from registering to be organ and tissue donors. One of the most common myths is that doctors will not do everything they can to save a patient if they know they are a registered organ and tissue donor.

“This is simply not true,” said Jennifer Moe, director of communications for Donor Alliance. “The first priority of a medical professional is to save the life of a sick or injured person when they arrive at the hospital. Organ and tissue donation isn’t discussed until after death has been declared. It is important to know that doctors and nurses involved in a patient’s care before death are not the same as those involved in the recovery and transplantation process.”

You are not too old or unhealthy to save lives. Regardless of your age or health you can still register to be an organ, eye and tissue donor.

People living in Colorado and Wyoming can register in the following ways:

• Online at DonateLifeColorado.org; DonateLifeWyoming.org; DoneVida.org
• At the Division of Motor Vehicles (CO) or Wyoming Department of Transportation (WY) the next time you obtain or renew your driver’s license
• By calling 1-888-256-4386 (Spanish & English)

For more information on organ and tissue donation, please visit donoralliance.org or call (303) 329-4747.

We are pleased to announce the creation of Colorado’s new specialty Donate Life license plate. CLICK HERE.

The latest issue of our quarterly newsletter is available for download as a PDF.

DOWNLOAD OUR CURRENT ISSUE NOW

For more information on becoming a Donor Alliance Volunteer, CLICK HERE.