April 3, 2009
Giving the gift of life through organ donation
According to the Center for Organ Recovery and Education (CORE), more than 100,000 people await an organ transplant at any given time in the United States. While the need for transplants grows, the donations haven’t been able to keep up with the demand. Each day, approximately 17 people die waiting for a suitable donor — and a second chance at life — to be found.
As an organ donor — whether living or deceased — you have the power to give someone the precious gift of life. Even though there are many efforts in place to educate the public, misconceptions about organ donation persist. If you have delayed your decision to be an organ donor because of inaccurate information, here are some facts surrounding common organ donation myths and concerns.
Fact: If you are sick or injured and admitted to the hospital, the doctors are focused on saving your life — not somebody else's. The doctor in charge of your care has nothing to do with transplantation.
Fact: Donation neither disfigures the body nor interferes with funeral arrangements.
Fact: Most major religions in the United States support organ, eye, and tissue donation and see it as the final act of love and generosity toward others.
Fact: There is no cost to the donor or their family for organ or tissue donation.
Fact: Signing a donor card and a driver's license with an "organ donor" designation may not satisfy your state's requirements to become a donor. Be certain to take the necessary steps to be a donor and ensure that your family understands your wishes.
Transplantation at UPMC
UPMC is one of the largest transplantation centers in the world. Since 1981, more than 12,000 transplants have been performed at UPMC — more than any other transplantation center. Our experts have a distinguished history of pioneering and perfecting new transplant procedures, making it possible to treat even more diseases and conditions that would otherwise cut short a human life. Our surgeons have accomplished several worldwide firsts, including the first transplants of several organs at a time and the first intestine, lung, and pancreas transplants. For more information on organ donation, visit http://organdonation.infonet.upmc.com/.
In recognition of Organ Donation Awareness Month, Extra in April is profiling three UPMC employees who have been touched by organ donation.
Warren Hulnick, DDS
Having received a liver transplant while the procedure was still in the pioneering stages, Warren Hulnick, DDS, says he had very few posttransplant problems. He’s watched the evolution of organ transplantation and notes that today there are more patients in need of organ transplants. With the increase in transplantation patients comes the need for more organ donors.
Although he did not continue in his dental practice following his transplant surgery, Dr. Hulnick has enjoyed a greater quality of life, returning to school at the University of Pittsburgh and receiving his master’s degree in health administration. He later began volunteering with the Transplant Recipients International Organization. Since 1992, he has been volunteering at the Starzl Transplantation Institute — where he may be called upon to tell his story of transplantation. While Dr. Hulnick doesn’t volunteer the information about his transplantation, he says if other staff members reveal this fact, he gladly shares with patients his own experience. Dr. Hulnick is happy to be able to speak with patients, answer questions, and allay fears — a luxury he didn’t have when he was going through the procedure.
Dr. Hulnick tells patients that their quality of life will definitely be improved. After his own operation, while he knew he couldn’t physically do it, he wanted to jump out of bed and get active. And with time he was able to do just that.
Bill Stein
Cystic fibrosis required Bill Stein to undergo a double lung transplant in August 2002. He remembers it as “a pretty exciting experience.” Posttransplant he had just a few minor illnesses related to colds and sinus problems, but nothing causing hospitalization, he says.
Feeling he had a second chance at life, Mr Stein acted on his fascination with medicine, and passion for transplant services. Forgoing his accounting background, Mr. Stein furthered his education, receiving a master’s degree in the certified physician assistant studies program at Chatham University. Currently, he is employed as a physician assistant on the small bowel transplant service at the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute. He says he can empathize with transplant patients and offer his experience.
Mr. Stein says that patients, upon learning that he has gone through the transplant process, seem more at ease and curious to learn from him. “Their eyes kind of light up and they seem fascinated that they have someone who has first-hand knowledge of what they are going through.” He says he tries to help them gain a better perspective of what transplantation has to offer and how their quality of life may improve. He tells patients not to get discouraged because there can be bumps along the road, and he wants people to know that there is hope. “Many individuals may not know that these types of transplant procedures (small bowel transplants) are done,” he says.
Mr. Stein wishes that those who are not organ donors would stop and think: “What if they or a loved one needed an organ transplant? How would they feel or get better if there were no organ donors to provide hope?”
Gregg Petrillo
Gregg Petrillo, UPMC Chartwell consultant, is thankful every day for organ donors. If it weren’t for organ donors, his daughter Emily might not be alive today. Emily was born with left hypoplastic heart syndrome, a condition in which most of the structures on the left side of the heart are underdeveloped. At 5 months of age, Emily underwent heart transplantation. That was nearly 13 years ago. After a few bumpy years of medication adjustments, and a few hospitalizations, Emily is now doing fine.
“Emily has a good quality of life since the transplant. We’ve been given an additional 13 years with her, and we are thankful,” Gregg says.
Gregg says seeing his daughter participate in the 2008 Transplant Games held in Pittsburgh gave him true appreciation for all that organ donation stands for. “I never thought I’d see Emily run, let alone be able to compete in the games as she did,” he says. Emily competed in track and field during three Transplant Games.
While Emily’s participation in the games was a joy for her and her family, it also inspired her aunt, Mr. Petrillo’s sister, to become a donor herself. Previously, even after seeing what her niece had endured, Emily’s aunt felt that organ donation was a personal decision and had not consented to become an organ donor. However, after witnessing the strength, courage, and determination that participants — including her niece — displayed, she was motivated to sign up and become an organ donor.