Your story continues through organ donation
In 2015, UT Southwestern shared the story of Dewayne Dunning and Melissa Robinson, friends who formed a powerful connection when Melissa offered to donate one of her kidneys to Dewayne, who had developed diabetes and kidney failure. Now, Dewayne and Melissa are being featured throughout campus to share the importance of organ donation during National Donate Life Month (NDLM).
National Donate Life Month was started by Donate Life America and its partnering organizations in 2003. Celebrated each April, NDLM features an entire month of local, regional, and national activities to help encourage Americans to register as organ, eye, and tissue donors and to celebrate those who have saved lives through the gift of donation.
According to Donate Life America:
- In 2016, more than 33,600 transplants brought renewed life to patients and their families and communities (from 9,900 deceased and 5,900 living donors).
- More than 116,000 men, women, and children await lifesaving organ transplants.
- About 58 percent of patients awaiting life-saving transplants are minorities.
- Another person is added to the nation’s organ transplant waiting list every 10 minutes.
- Sadly, 8,000 people die each year (22 people each day – almost one person each hour) because the organs they need are not donated in time.
UT Southwestern will celebrate NDLM by hosting tables around campus, staffed by the Southwest Transplant Alliance, to encourage UTSW faculty, staff, and students to sign up to be an organ donor. You could also visit UT Southwestern’s unique registration page to sign up to be an organ donor. Here’s where you can find the tables:
- April 6 – Clements University Hospital near south employee entrance
- April 13 – Bass Building food court
- April 20 – South Campus food court
- April 27 – Professional Office Building lobby
By joining the Donate Life Texas donor registry, you give hope to thousands of people awaiting the transplant they need to survive. Your generosity can save as many as eight lives through organ donation and bring sight and healing to another 75 people or more through cornea and tissue donation.
Video: Experience a heart transplant in 360°
The first human-to-human heart transplant electrified the world in December 1967. But now 50 years later, the activities involved in a heart transplant procedure are still a mystery to most people. Now, we're incredibly proud to share another first in the medical world: the first-ever heart transplant video presented with a 360-degree view.
Warning: This video is graphic in nature. Viewer discretion is advised.
Transplants at UTSW
Visit utswmed.org/transplant for more stories, statistics, and information about UT Southwestern’s transplant program.
