Organ and Tissue Donation

THE GIFT OF LIFE...
DISCUSS IT WITH YOUR FAMILY.

Hundreds wait ... for life
Every year, hundreds of men, women and children wait anxiously for a phone call that will save their lives. They are the people who need a new kidney, liver or heart. They are the ones who hope to see once more, or for the first time, through a cornea transplant. They are the ones who need other kinds of human tissue for restorative or reconstructive surgery.

Let Your Family Know
You can improve and save lives by choosing to be an organ and tissue donor. Your family may find comfort that someone else has hope for a better life. If you want to be a donor, the most important thing you can do is to make your wishes known to your family and next-of-kin. Doctors will support the decision of the family at the time of death. That is why it is so important to talk to your family about your wishes.

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Organs and Tissues Needed

There are many different organs and tissues that are urgently required:

•	*Cornea:* When it comes to improving vision, corneal transplants have an 85-90% success rate. They are among the most often performed transplants.
•	*Heart:* A donated heart can make the difference between life and death for someone. At the very least, a new heart vastly improves the patient’s quality of life. Current follow-up shows that 80% of heart recipients will be well and active five years after the operation.
•	*Lungs:* Donated lungs usually go to people suffering from cystic fibrosis and other, often fatal, lung conditions.
•	*Kidneys:* Usually a donor shares his or her two kidneys with two recipients. People need only one functioning kidney to lead a normal life. 80-90% of kidney transplants are successful.
•	*Liver:* The only cure for liver failure is a liver transplant. Liver recipients have an 80% rate of success.
•	*Pancreas:* A new pancreas may reduce the need for insulin injections for diabetic patients.
•	*Bone:* Bone that has been destroyed by tumours or infections can be replaced with healthy bone grafts, saving limbs that would otherwise have to be amputated.
•	*Skin*: Donated skin is most often used to speed up the healing process for severe burn cases.
•	*Heart valves:* Heart valves are used to replace diseased or damaged valves in adults and children.

Make Arrangements Today
River Valley Health, in conjunction with the New Brunswick Transplant Coordinator and the New Brunswick Eye Bank, is prepared to make the necessary arrangements for families wishing to donate organs or tissues for transplantation.

For more donor information contact:

The Administration Office
River Valley Health
Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital
700 Priestman Street, PO Box 9000
Fredericton, NB E3B 5N5
Tel: (506) 452-5667

The New Brunswick Transplant Coordinator
Organ and Tissue Procurement Program
PO Box 5001
Saint John, NB E3L 4Y9
Tel: (506) 643-6848

The New Brunswick Eye Bank
St. Joseph’s Hospital
130 Bayard Drive, 5th Floor
Saint John, NB E2L 3L6
Tel: (506) 632-5541

Or visit the web site of the Canadian Association of Transplantation at www.transplant.ca. (Add the following phrase and link)

You can print a web based pamphlet found at http://www.gnb.ca/0217/organ-e.asp

River Valley Health will respect your wishes if you have indicated a desire to donate your organs or tissues. We promise to make every effort to ensure that arrangements are made with the organ and tissue retrieval team.