Intermountain Donor Services
Did you know that in Utah, more than 550 people are waiting for a lifesaving transplant? Intermountain Donor Services is a non-profit organ recovery service for Utah residents waiting for an organ transplant. Not only does Intermountain harvest organs, eyes and tissue, it also helps get them to patients who are desperately waiting.
Alex McDonald is the public relations director for Intermountain Donor Services and says the need for willing organ donors is always increasing. One in every 80 deaths in Utah has the potential to be an organ donor, which can save up to nine people and improve the life of many others through tissue donation.
“More lives were saved in 2011 because of generous people in Utah,” he says. “More than 74 percent of licensed Utah drivers are organ donors. We are grateful for these giving people.”
Interested in becoming an organ donor but not sure how to do it? Alex suggests visiting the website www.yesutah.org, calling 1-866-yes-utah or checking at the DMV to find out more information. Intermountain also works closely with young men trying to earn their Eagle Scout award. Intermountain helps scouts come up with projects to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation.
People of any age can sign up to become organ donors, although children under 18 need a parent’s consent. Alex says talking about organ donation now and making a decision with your family gives hope to people waiting for a transplant.
“The decision to become an organ donor is a decision you hope you never have to deal with,” he says. “But discussing it before tragedy strikes makes your wishes clear to your family.”
Organ donation is truly the gift of life, but it isn’t always associated with someone else’s passing. More than half of the people waiting for a transplant need a kidney, which can be done by a living kidney donation. After being matched with a patient, living donors can share one of their two kidneys with that person.
This was the case with Marco and Scott (seen in the picture). Marco was on dialysis for more than three years as he waited for a kidney. He would spend three days a week for four hours each day doing dialysis. Just before his 21st birthday, Marco got the news he was matched with a kidney.
Because of Scott’s generous donation, Marco has been able to lead a full, healthy life. His relationship with Scott continues to this day. By becoming a living donor, Scott gave Marco a second chance at life. Alex says that state employees and many local businesses offer paid leave for living kidney donors.
“Organ donation has been on the rise and Utah has one of the highest rates of donation, both living and at the time of death, in the nation,” he says. “The generous people in Utah have been so successful in organ donation because communities really come together to help their own.”
Intermountain Donor Services works with people from all over the state to help educate people about the importance of organ and tissue donation. For more information, visit www.yesutah.org or call 1-866-yes-utah.
