Organ Donation

1. Heart-For those suffering heart failure from a disease or virus, a donated heart makes the difference between living or dying.

2. Lungs-Donated lungs are transplanted into people suffering from fatal lung conditions, such as Cystic Fibrosis.

3. Kidneys- The two kidneys given by each donor are transplanted into two different recipients, who need only one functioning kidney to lead a normal life.

4. Liver- The liver filters the blood and metabolizes the food we eat. The only cure for liver failure is a liver transplant.

5. Pancreas-Donated to diabetics, a new pancreas eliminates the need for daily insulin injections. Recent, breakthrough research in Canada, has found a new procedure for transplanting pancreatic islet cells to cure diabetics.

6. Eye Tissue- (Cornea)-When it comes to restoring lost vision; corneal transplants have a 90 to 95 per cent success rate and are among the most often performed transplants.

7. Bone- Bone that has been destroyed by tumors or infections can often be replaced with healthy donated bone, saving limbs that would otherwise have to be amputated.

8. Skin- Donated skin is used as a dressing to speed up the healing process for severe burn victims. 9. Heart Valves- Donated heart valves are often used for infants whose heart valves are defective at birth. 10. Bowel-Donated bowels are often transplanted into infants to correct birth defects. This saves lives and improves quality of life.

11. Tendons and ligaments-Donated tendons and ligaments are used in orthopedic and plastic surgery to repair or replace tendons and ligaments that have been destroyed by disease.

12. Veins- Donated veins are used to replace and repair veins that have been destroyed by disease. Used in heart by-pass surgery.