Facts About Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation

Facts About Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation

Throughout the United States, the need for organ donation is significant*:

  • More than 109,000 men, women and children currently await lifesaving organ transplants
  • Tens of thousands more await life-enhancing tissue or cornea transplants
  • On average, 20 people a day die because of the lack of available organs for transplants
  • Every 10 minutes, another person is added to the waiting list
  • 95% of Americans are in favor of being a donor, but only 60% are registered

*For more up-to-date data, visit organdonor.gov

In our region, approximately 2,000 people in Missouri and 500 people in Kansas await lifesaving transplants. By registering to be an organ and tissue donor, you can:

  • Save as many as eight lives, which may include releasing two people from dialysis treatments by donating kidneys
  • Enhance the lives of up to 100 more people, which may include giving sight to two people by donating corneas, and helping to repair injured bones, joints and other tissues through bone and tissue donation

Right to Donate

Every individual has the right to donate. You can authorize to be an organ, eye and tissue donor by signing up with your state registry at your local DMV or by registering online at the following websites:

Donation Process Overview

Here are a couple of videos that can help explain the donation process.