National Living Donor Day
While many life-saving organ donor situations take place after the donor has deceased, in certain medical situations, it is possible for an organ to be donated by a person who is living and healthy.
National Living Donor Day seeks to improve public awareness about the possibility and process of living donors, encouraging more people to understand and be aware of how becoming a living organ donor might save the life of a friend or family member.
How to Celebrate National Living Donor Day
National Living Donor Day invites everyone to participate in a variety of ways with plans and activities. Consider some of these ideas for observing the day:
Learn Important Facts About Living Donation
One of the best ways to get involved with National Living Donor Day might be to get more informed about the process.
- The most common living organ donation is when a person donates one of their kidneys to help someone in kidney failure and the donor is able to live normally with their one functioning kidney.
- Another living donation is when a person gives a portion of their liver. When this happens, the remaining liver cells in the donor will rejuvenate and eventually grow back.
- Living organ donors undergo a rigorous screening process to be sure they are a viable candidate
- Many times, living donors are related to the recipient, which may cut down on rejection problems, but this is not always the case.
Consider Becoming a Kidney Donor
Folks who sign up to the National Donate Life Registry are also invited to consider whether they would choose to be a living kidney donor.
This does require a person to be between the ages of 18-65, in good health, and to meet some other requirements. Check with the Donate Life organization for more information.
History of National Living Donor Day
The first successful living donor organ transplant took place in Boston, Massachusetts on December 23, 1954 when it was performed between identical twins who were 23 years old at the time.
In this living transplant, one brother donated a healthy kidney to his twin who was in kidney failure. Both young men went on to be active and healthy for the duration of their lives.
In the many decades since that first successful operation, many advances have been made, resulting in even more successful surgeries!
National Living Donor Day is recorded as having started in 2023 in cooperation with the Living Liver Foundation. It takes place annually on this day as it correlates with the larger celebration of National Donate Life Month, which takes place all throughout the month of April.
Another similar day is sponsored by the Donate Life America organization, but it is scheduled to take place about a week earlier, on April 3. But no matter when this event is observed, it is an important one that works hard to raise awareness and educate the public about this life-saving medical process.
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