Become an Organ Donor
The human body is a storehouse of valuable tissues and organs that can save many lives. Yet there is still a severe shortage of donor organs in the United States.
When life for you or a loved one has ceased, you can still give the gift of life to others. Becoming an organ donor means that in the event of death, you are willing to allow your organs and tissues to go to saving the lives of others. When you register to be an organ donor, you perform an invaluable service for thousands of people in need.
Organ donation is an important decision that should be considered carefully. If you decide to become an organ donor, sign a Uniform Donor Card in the presence of two witnesses and carry it with you at all times. Talk to your family about your choice to be an organ donor and discuss with them what it means.
Liver transplantation is a surgical procedure performed to remove a diseased or injured liver and replace it with a whole or a portion of a healthy liver from another person, called the donor. Since the liver is the only organ in the body able to regenerate, a transplanted segment of a liver can grow to normal size within weeks.
When is a liver transplant necessary?
Read our section on liver transplants to learn more about liver transplant surgery, the circumstances under which it is necessary, and its long-term effects.
Organize.org
ORGANIZE is a 501(c)3 non-profit aiming to simplify the donor registration process by expanding the variety and number of places people can register. They've created the country's first-ever centralized registry and are now working to emphasize the need for conversations surrounding organ donation to take place among next-of-kin. Visit the Organize.org website to get started!
Donate Life America
Donate Life America is a not-for-profit alliance of national organizations and local coalitions across the United States dedicated to inspiring all people to save and enhance lives through organ, eye and tissue donation. Visit the Donate Life America Web site and become a donor today!
Gift of a Lifetime
The Gift of a Lifetime is an educational documentary about organ donation, tissue donation and organ transplants in the United States. Through audio slideshows, and illustrated animations, this unique production provides invaluable insight into the medical miracle that is organ and tissue transplantation.
Thousands of lives depend on receiving organ and tissue transplants, but there is a severe shortage of donated organs. There are currently over 100,000 children and adults in the U.S. on the organ transplant list. There are over 16,000 Americans on the waiting list for a liver transplant, including nearly 3,500 in California
Every year thousands of people die while waiting for a liver to become available. While the American Liver Foundation continues to promote organ donor awareness, we must also face the likelihood that the organ supply is unlikely to increase sufficiently to meet the anticipated doubling in need for liver transplants over the next decade. For this reason, we strongly support increased federal funding of fundamental research into the underlying mechanisms that lead to end-stage liver disease, and the development of improved medical treatments for these diseases.
Donated organs save lives
Organ and tissue donation is an important decision and one that should be considered carefully. When life for you or a loved one has ceased, you can still give the "Gift of Life" to others. Each person has the potential to save up to eight lives through organ donation and touch up to 50 others through tissue donation. Make the decision and inform your family of your wish to be an organ donor.
To become a registered organ donor, please visit www.donatelifecalifornia.org and follow the instructions to complete the Registry sign-up. As of July 1, 2006, the DMV also provides the opportunity for the public to sign-up with Donate Life California when applying for or renewing a driver's license or ID. Either way, through online registration or through the DMV, your consent to be a donor is registered with Donate Life California Registry, assuring that your wish to save lives will be honored.
Your "gift of life" can save up to eight lives through organ donation and enhance another 50 lives through tissue donation. The Donate Life California Registry is an online registry for those who would like to consent to be an organ donor and give the "gift of life" to others. The Nevada Donor Network provides registry paperwork (available by download) where you can specify which organs and tissues you would like to donate.
Donate Life California Organ Donor Registry
The Donate Life California Registry (www.donatelifecalifornia.org) is an online registry for those who would like to consent to be an organ donor and give the "gift of life" to others. This registry makes it easier than ever before to express your commitment to being an organ donor. Donate Life California is a confidential registry for Californians over the age of 18 and is administered by California's four nonprofit organ procurement organizations (OPOs):
California Transplant Donor Network
Golden State Donor Services
Lifesharing
OneLegacy
In California, prior to 2004, there was no registry available for those who wished to be an organ donor. In the past, when someone placed the pink dot on their license it served as an important symbol of their intent to donate, but did not place them on a formal list or donor registry. As of July 1, 2006, individuals who renew or apply for a driver's license or California ID with the DMV can register their decision to be a donor with the Donate Life California Registry, and the pink dot "donor" symbol will be pre-printed on the applicant's driver license or ID card.
Register your consent to be an organ donor at www.donatelifecalifornia.org or at your local DMV and your wish to be an organ donor will be registered with Donate Life California Registry, assuring that your wish to save lives will be honored.
Dan & Kevin
Living Donor & Transplant Recipient
Living Donor Liver Transplant Provides New Lease on Life