Donation Essentials Blog
Can transplanted organs be donated again?
The essential gift of organ donation is the ultimate act of “paying it forward” with the donation of healthy organs and tissues, but what if that gift didn’t have to stop at just one transplant? What if healthy transplanted organs could save more than one life? For some on the kidney and liver transplant waiting lists, that idea is becoming reality as a growing transplantation practice now allows healthy transplanted organs to be donated again.
The approach, sometimes called “regifting” an organ, was pioneered by leaders like Dr. Jeffrey Veale, director of the UCLA Kidney Exchange Program. Years ago, Dr. Veale made headlines after successfully transplanting a healthy kidney into a second patient following the first recipient’s tragic death in an auto accident.
Since then, similar procedures have continued to show promising results. In fact, case studies have documented re-transplanted kidneys functioning well even years after their first transplant — offering a second chance at life for patients who may have otherwise run out of options.
This practice is still rare, but experts estimate it could expand the viable donor pool and help hundreds of people each year. Today, advances in organ matching, preservation technology, and surgical techniques are making re-transplantation more feasible and more successful than ever before. Dr. Veale emphasizes this potential by pointing out that up to 20–25% of kidney transplant patients die with a functioning graft, years of valuable kidney lifespan that could benefit others.
There are nearly 100,000 people in the U.S. waiting to receive a lifesaving organ transplant, nearly 1,300 of which are in our community. Signing up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor is quick and easy to do by saying Yes at the driver license office or Driver Services, or anytime at Donate Life Colorado or Donate Life Wyoming.
Join Donor Alliance volunteers at the 12th Annual Ride for Hope in Thornton, Colorado. What began in memory of Brianna has grown into a community of remembrance and resilience. The ride starts at 9:30 AM with breakfast burritos and coffee, then heads directly to LuLu’s Inn in Watkins, CO. Details and Registration: https://www.thehealinghomeretreat.org/ride-for-hope
Donation Essentials Blog
Understanding the Impact of Race on Organ Transplantation
Organ transplantation is a remarkable medical procedure. It involves surgically replacing a failing or damaged organ in one individual with a healthy organ from another individual, showcasing the remarkable potential of modern medicine to extend the gift of existence. Many people wonder: Does race matter in organ transplants?
Although organ transplant candidates are not matched based on race or ethnicity, and people of different ethnicities often match one another, transplant matches made within ethnic groups can be even more compatible and successful. That is why it is so important that more people in all communities register as organ, eye, and tissue donors. The more people who register their decision to be donors, the more lives that can be saved and healed!
Here in Colorado and Wyoming, nearly 1,300 people are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. While the need for transplants touches people across all communities, almost 50% of those on the waiting list belong to communities of color.
The Need for Lifesaving Organ Transplants Across Communities
The need for lifesaving organ transplants affects all communities regardless of race and ethnicity, making it crucial to increase the number of registered donors to improve transplant outcomes for diverse populations.
National Multiethnic Donor Awareness Month aims to raise awareness of organ, eye, and tissue donation across all ethnicities. Increasing the pool of registered donors can save and heal more lives, as just one donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and save or heal more than 75 lives through tissue donation.
Preventing diseases that lead to organ failure, such as kidney disease, is essential in reducing the need for transplants and improving overall health outcomes.
Supporting organ, eye, and tissue donation and discussing the decision with loved ones can make a significant impact in saving and healing lives. Registering as a donor can provide hope to those waiting for a second chance at life.
Research Studies and Findings
Studies have shown that certain ethnicities face a higher risk of adverse outcomes, such as lower rates of organ transplantation and higher mortality rates post-transplant, which highlights systemic issues requiring equitable access to life-saving treatments for all patients, regardless of their racial background.
If organs are not matched based on race or ethnicity, why can organ transplants be more compatible when made within the same ethnic groups? The reason is the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA). HLA antigens are proteins that most cells in our bodies contain. Our parents pass down these antigens as a unique set, regulating the immune system.
When it comes to kidney matching, which is the organ most needed by African American and Black patients, HLA plays a big role. This is due to HLA antigens not matching as well between Caucasian and African American candidates. Currently, African Americans make up more than 1/3 of the kidney transplant waiting list nationally, yet only around 13% of the general population. This creates a smaller pool of potential donor organs from African American donors, leading to African American transplant candidates relying on organs that do not match as well or having to wait longer for a more suitable match.
Factors Contributing to Disparities
Socioeconomic factors, such as limited access to healthcare and unequal distribution of resources, play a significant role. Additionally, genetic factors and varying immune responses among different racial groups can impact the compatibility and success of transplanted organs. Recognizing and understanding these contributing factors is crucial for developing targeted interventions and policies aimed at reducing disparities and ensuring fair and equitable organ transplantation outcomes for all patients.
Emphasizing The Need for Diverse Communities to Register as Organ Donors
The importance of diverse communities registering as organ donors cannot be overstated. The need for lifesaving organ transplants affects people of all races, ethnicities, and ages. By increasing registered donors from diverse communities, we improve transplant outcomes and offer hope to those waiting for a second chance at life. Organ transplantation knows no racial or ethnic boundaries; each donor can save and heal numerous lives. Embracing solidarity in organ donation bridges disparities and ensures a fair chance for every patient. A diverse and compassionate community makes a difference, an inclusive endeavor with no boundaries. Together, we save and heal one another, offering the promise of life to all.
As always, thank you for your support of organ, eye and tissue donation. If you already registered as a donor, please take some time to discuss your decision with your loved ones. If you haven’t signed up yet, we encourage you to do so in honor of National Multiethnic Donor Awareness Month. One heroic decision can save and heal lives!
In Colorado, we care about our neighbors. We understand that organ, eye and tissue donation saves and heals thousands of lives every year, so we make it a point to register for our community.
Join us while we cheer on the CSU Rams as the take on the UTSA Roadrunners on Saturday, September 20th! Our volunteers and staff will be at the stadium at a booth with information, Donate Life Colorado merch, and opportunities to learn how you can make a lifesaving and healing impact through organ, eye, and tissue donation. Stop by to say hi, register as a donor, and show your support for this important cause. Help us cheer on the Rams together while spreading hope and saving and healing lives!
A recent congressional hearing has focused attention on patient safety within organ procurement and transplantation. As an organization committed to the highest standards of care, Donor Alliance supports thorough examination of practices across our field. While Donor Alliance was not involved in the cases mentioned in the hearing, we believe addressing any systemic concerns strengthens the entire transplant community and protects the patients we serve.
Donor Alliance has long prioritized excellence in everything we do. Our commitment to quality and continuous improvement predates current regulatory discussions. It is exemplified by our recognition as a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award winner—the nation’s highest presidential honor for organizational performance excellence. This achievement reflects our dedication to the rigorous standards that our life-saving mission demands.
For more than a decade, we have consistently increased organ donations from our region year after year through comprehensive performance improvement initiatives. Our safe and effective processes and those of our partner hospitals throughout Colorado and Wyoming demonstrate what can be achieved when organizations fully embrace continuous improvement.
We support the US Department of Health and Human Services’ emphasis on standardization and reform across the transplant system. The need for consistent, high-quality practices nationwide is clear, and we stand ready to help develop and implement national standards that will benefit patients everywhere.
Our work begins by safely and ethically honoring the donor and donor family and impacts thousands of patients awaiting transplants, both in our community and across the country. This responsibility drives our unwavering commitment to performance excellence and our willingness to collaborate with federal agencies, fellow OPOs, hospitals, and all stakeholders in strengthening our transplant system.
As we move forward, Donor Alliance remains dedicated to maximizing the precious gift of life while maintaining the highest standards of safety and integrity. We will continue to strictly adhere to all federal requirements and welcome initiatives that advance our shared goal of saving more lives through donation and transplantation.
