POLOKWANE – It’s common to hear people say they would take a bullet for a loved one or do anything to save someone else’s life. But when it comes time to become an organ donor or even just to register as one, many of those people go silent, hoping they won’t need to step up.
August is Organ Donor Awareness Month – a time to reflect on the importance of organ donation, the different types of donations, and how to spread the word about this life-saving cause.
Dr Stella de Kock, managing director at Transplant Education for Living Legacies (Tell), offers advice on how to discuss organ donation with family and friends.
“The most important part of organ donation is conversation,” says de Kock.
“The quotation marks that are part of Tell’s brand mark symbolise more than just a logo – they represent the beginning of the most important conversation you will ever have. Some donors even choose to tattoo the quotation mark on their bodies, paint it on their nails, or sew it onto their clothing.”
According to Tell, there are two types of organ donors: living donors and deceased donors.
A donor can give seven organs after death and five partial organs while still alive.
De Kock explains that donors don’t necessarily need to know their recipients; they can donate a part of their liver or a kidney to someone on the waiting list.
“This is called an altruistic donation. Donating to someone you know, such as a family member or friend, is known as a related or non-related donation.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines live donations as those made with the donor’s informed and voluntary consent, ensuring professional care for the donor, organised follow-up, and strict monitoring of donor selection criteria.
De Kock emphasises that a living donor needs to be in excellent health to withstand the operation and lead a normal life afterward.
“To be listed for a transplant, the recipient undergoes various tests and is continuously assessed by their specialist. Only after the recipient is cleared for a transplant does the evaluation of the living donor begin. The donor’s work-up process is done in phases and can be stopped at any time if the donor changes their mind or if a medical condition is discovered that would prevent a transplant.”
Many people are unaware that there are benefits for both the living donor and the recipient.
Organ donation is a profound way to make a lasting impact, turning words of sacrifice into life-saving action.
Benefits for living donors:
• Provides an opportunity to save a life.
• Contributes to the recipient’s life as well as their family and friends in a meaningful and lifelong way.
• Living donors usually live longer due to being healthy to start with and also getting annual health checks.
• Short hospital stay of more or less a week
• The living donor can return to work 6 weeks after the operation.
• Can live a healthy/normal life with one kidney.
• Liver regenerates after six to eight weeks.
• Right to withdraw for participation as a donor at any time.
• The welfare of the living donor is paramount, transplant will not proceed if the risk to the donor is unacceptable.
• Thorough medical evaluation at no cost to donor, cost are covered by recipients medical aid or by state.
Benefits for recipient:
• Increase in the overall supply of kidneys and/or liver- opening up space on the transplant waiting list.
• Shortens time on the transplant waiting list for other patients in need.
• Surgery is usually performed before the patient’s condition worsens further, improving the odds of graft (kidney or liver) survival.
• Surgery is scheduled at a time that is convenient for both parties.
• The donated kidney starts to produce urine immediately.
• The liver grows to full size in six to eight weeks.
• Life-saving operation for liver recipients and improving the quality of life for kidney recipients.
• Cost-effective treatment for kidney patients.
• For children, it improves cognitive and physical development.
• Can return to work full time or start a career, able to attend school/higher education full time.
• More energy and time to spend with friends and family.
