Shane Pennington

More than 100,000 men, women and children currently need life-saving organ transplants. Every 11 minutes another name is added to the national organ transplant waiting list. An average of 18 people die each day from the lack of available organs for transplant. In 2008, there were 7,984 deceased organ donors and 6,218 living organ donors resulting in 27,961 organ transplants.

Living Deceased

Organs Tissues Stem Cells Blood and Platelets

Most people can be organ donors! Exclusions Age Medical Conditions

Transplant patients highest on list Can be stored

Register with your state donor registry Indicate your intention on your drivers license

Myth No. 1. If I agree to donate my organs, my doctor or the emergency room staff won't work as hard to save my life. They'll remove my organs as soon as possible to save somebody else. Myth No. 2. Maybe I won't really be dead when they sign my death certificate. It'll be too late for me if they've taken my organs for transplantation. I might have otherwise recovered. Myth No. 3. Organ donation is against my religion. Myth No. 4. I want my loved one to have an open-casket funeral. That can't happen if his or her organs or tissues have been donated. Myth No. 5. My family will be charged if I donate my organs.

"How to Become an Organ Donor -." Associated Content - Associatedcontent.com. Web. 16 Mar "Organ Donation: Don't Let These 10 Myths Confuse You - MayoClinic.com." Mayo Clinic Medical Information and Tools for Healthy Living - MayoClinic.com. Web. 16 Mar OrganDonor.gov. Web. 17 Mar