1. Donate Life: An Overview of Organ, Tissue and Eye Donation for
Wisconsin Teen Driver Education Classes
We’ll spend the next 30 minutes:
discussing and learning about the need for organ, tissue and eye donors, as well as …
understanding why it’s important to consider registering as an organ donor and …
how donation dramatically changes someone’s life

2. Why is organ, tissue and eye donation so important?
Why is organ, tissue and eye donation an important topic to discuss? I’ll provide some information to you and be able to answer questions during the next 30 minutes.

3. The Importance Of Organ, Tissue And Eye Donation
Registered donors have the power to save lives
Registering as a donor is a charitable act with no cost
Registered donors have legally authorized their gift
Registered Donors
Organ donation gives recipients a second chance at life
Tissue and eye donation gives recipients the ability to heal, freedom from pain, or the ability to see again
Recipients
A family receives some comfort during their time of grief when a loved one is able to be a donor
Families have some consolation that their loss helped save or improve the lives of others
Donors And Their Families
Read the slide

4. Why Is Organ Donation A Driver Education Class Topic?
There are 2 reasons that this information is part of your driver education curriculum:
First, it’s important for you to know that in Wisconsin all teen driver education students receive information on organ donation as a result of WI Act 124, a law enacted in Here is some background on how this legislation came about:
Kelly Nachreiner registered as an organ donor at the DMV when she got her driver’s license at age 16. Her parents were with her at the DMV and aware of her decision. Tragically, Kelly died within a month of receiving her license in a car accident. Since she was a registered organ donor, and her parent’s knew her wishes, Kelly’s decision saved 3 people’s lives through organ donation.
Since Wisconsin adopted this Law to educate teen driver’s, two things are important to note:
17 other states have implemented similar educational directives
the number of registered teens in Wisconsin increased 20%! (from 48% to 70%) since the Law took place!
Secondly, you’ll be asked if you want to be an organ donor when you get your license at the DMV. Learning the facts about organ, tissue and eye donation helps you make an informed decision, whether you register at the DMV or online at Wisconsin’s online registry at I’ll speak more about Wisconsin’s online donor registry later in the presentation.
Kelly Nachreiner Law
Wisconsin Act 124
Organ donor on January 4, 2000
Saved 3 lives!

5. The National Organ Transplant Challenge – The Need Continues to Grow
This is a graph that shows why there are never enough donors for the number of patients waiting for organ transplants. The number of people on the waiting list continues to increase every year by about 3%, while the number of organ, tissue and eye donors hasn’t increased very much over the last 12 years.
The top orange line on the graph represents the number of people waiting for transplants and continues to grow every year. Remember that we also saw in a previous slide that approximately 144 people are added to the national organ transplant waiting list every day.
The middle green line is the number of transplants performed each year.
The blue line at the bottom is relatively flat because the number of organ donors (including both living and deceased donors) doesn’t change much from year to year. Living donors can donate one kidney or part of their liver.
It’s important for all of us to understand that in order to increase the number of organ, tissue and eye donors we need to increase the number of registered donors in each state so that they’re family members don’t need to make that decision for them.
Based upon OPTN year-end data provided on 02/06/ This work was supported in part by Health Resources and Services Administration contract C. The content is the responsibility of the authors alone and does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

6. The National Organ Transplant Challenge – Meeting The Need
About 98,000 (83%) of the waiting candidates need a kidney
Nearly 118,000 people waiting for a transplant
2,000 are children ages 17 and younger
Every 10 minutes a candidate is added to the wait list
The number of people waiting increases an average of 3% each year
Each day 22 people on the waiting list die before receiving a transplant
58% of the candidates are multi-cultural while these groups make up 37% of the U.S. population
There is a serious need for organ donors because there is a large number of people in the U.S. needing organ transplants.
These are the numbers we want you to know about:
nearly 118,000 people are waiting for organ transplants in the U.S., right now. Each of these individuals on the waiting list has been diagnosed with an ultimately fatal condition and their life depends upon receiving a transplanted organ.
an individual is added to the national transplant waiting list every ten minutes each day; that means 144 people will be added to the list today
sadly, 22 people die each day— this means that over 150 people die every week—before they are able to receive a life-saving organ transplant.
Organ, tissue and eye donation is an amazing gift of hope for those who are suffering with a life-threatening illness or serious disease.
Data from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2015

7. The National Organ Transplant Challenge – Few People Have the Opportunity to Donate
The facts show that most of us don’t die in a manner allowing for organ donation – this is the major reason that there aren’t enough organ donors for the number of waiting recipients.
In a group of 100 people, approximately 3 might experience brain death.
Brain death allows for the potential of organ donation because the patient is in a hospital and on mechanical support. Mechanical support means that the patient is ventilated with a machine. The machine moves breathable air into and out of their lungs, to provide breathing for a patient who is physically unable to breathe on their own.
Brain death is death. A coma is not brain death – a coma is a state of deep sleep.

8. Why Is It Important to Register As A Donor?
Donation Potential – Fewer than 4% of people die in a hospital on a ventilator in a manner that allows for the potential of organ donation
Lack of Knowledge and Awareness – More registered donors are needed providing first person legal authorization for organ, tissue and eye donation for transplant, research and education
Disproportionately High Racial and Ethnic Need – African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Asians, Pacific Islanders and Native Americans are 3 times more likely than Caucasians to suffer from kidney disease leading to End Stage Renal Disease
It’s important to register as a donor because the reality is that very few people die in a way that allows for the possibility of organ donation. Here’s what happens … a person arrives at a hospital with a life threatening brain injury from an accident, a stroke, or a lack of oxygen. The medical team works hard to save their life, but sometimes nothing more can be done. In this situation there is a complete, irreversible lack of brain function (or brain death). Brain death is different from a coma – a person who is in a coma has brain function. Brain death means that the patient is clinically and legally brain dead—they are only breathing with the aid of a mechanical ventilator. The ventilator provides blood mixed with oxygen to continue to flow to the organs. Then, the organs can be transplanted into other people when donation is possible. With fewer than 4% of the population dying in a manner to become an organ donor, there are not enough donors for those listed on the national organ transplant waiting list.
Secondly, for those 18 years and older, a First Person Authorization is an individual’s legal authorization to be an organ, tissue and eye donor. As a minor under 18, your parents can overrule your decision to be a donor. It’s essential that you discuss your decision with them so they are aware of your feelings about organ donation. When someone is a registered donor, the hospital staff works with the family to honor their loved one’s wishes to be an organ, tissue and eye donor.
Third, there is an unusually high need among certain ethnic groups (people of color) for transplants. African Americans, Hispanics and Latinos, Asians and Native Americans are 3 times more likely than Caucasians to suffer from some kidney diseases that may require a kidney transplant.

9. The National Organ Transplant Waiting List
People waiting for an organ transplant are listed by their transplant center on the national organ transplant waiting list maintained by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)
The national United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) waiting list is monitored by the federal government
The UNOS waiting list is updated minute-by-minute—with new names added and the names of those transplanted or deceased removed
Organs are given to the patients who are highest on the list and meet the requirements for a successful transplant of the donor organ:
blood type tissue type body size other criteria
Understand that organ donation is considered only after all efforts to save a patient’s life have been exhausted by the hospital medical team
There are individuals of all ages, genders, and ethnicities on the National Organ Transplant Waiting List
Let me explain the National Organ Transplant Waiting List – this is how people who need transplants are listed:
When a person is a good candidate for a transplant they’re registered on the national waiting list because they’re in end stage organ failure and need to have their organ replaced in order to survive.
The waiting list is updated real time so that new names are added and the names of people who receive transplants, or die before receiving a transplant, are removed from the list.
Please know that a medical team exhausts all efforts to save a patient’s life before organ donation is considered. When a deceased organ donor is identified, a transplant coordinator from an organ procurement organization enters the donor’s medical information in the national database. The national system uses this information to match the medical characteristics of the candidates waiting against the characteristics of the donor. Then, a ranked list of patients who are suitable to receive each available organ is generated.
Factors that match donor organs to recipients include:
Blood type and tissue matches
body size
length of time on the waiting list
immune status
geographical distance between the potential recipient and the donor—about 85% of organs are transplanted locally
degree of medical urgency for the recipient

10. The National Organ Transplant Waiting List July 2017
In the U.S.
117,352*
In Wisconsin
2,136*
In the U.S. there are nearly 117,500 waiting for a life-saving transplant.
In Wisconsin, there are almost 2,200 people waiting.
* Totals are less than the sums due to patients included in multiple categories. For the most up-to-date numbers visit:
Source: Organ Procurement and Transplant Network Data: 07/02/2017

11. Organ Transplant Waiting List Breakdown by Ethnic Group
Nearly half of those waiting for lifesaving organ transplants in the U.S. are from multicultural communities.
Source: Organ Procurement and Transplant Network Data

12. Ethnicity Matters – Help Diversify the Donor Registry
Some ethnic groups have an unusually high need for organ transplants
African Americans, Latinos, Asians, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders are 3 times more likely than Caucasians to suffer from kidney disease, as well as liver disease
Donors and waiting recipients who share the same ancestry are more likely to match.
Compatible blood and tissue types are more likely to be found within the same ethnicity
As I previously explained, some ethnic groups have a higher need for organ transplants, particularly kidneys.
African Americans, Latinos, Asians, Native Americans and Pacific Islanders are 3 times more likely to suffer from kidney diseases or liver disease
While a donor and recipient do not need to match ethnically, there is a better chance of receiving a transplant where there is a larger number of donors with the same racial background. That’s because blood and tissue types are more compatible within the same ethnicity.

13. Donor Diversity Saves And Improves Lives in Multicultural Communities
Diversity is critical among those who register as organ, tissue and eye donors because it helps improve and save more lives in our communities
Transplant success rates increase when organs are matched between members of the same ethnic background
Think of your community and register as an organ donor at DonateLifeWisconsin.org or in Spanish DoneVidaWisconsin.org

14. People of All Ages Need Organ and Tissue Transplants
Haley and Michaela had liver transplants within a few months of each other.
They each had flu symptoms but needed to be hospitalized. After admittance to the hospital they and their families learned that they didn’t have the flu, after all. They had Wilson’s disease—a rare disease that allows too much copper to build up in your liver and destroys it. They only had a few days to live if they didn’t receive a liver transplant. Now they are healthy, active college students.
In an HBO interview with host Bill Simmons on “Any Given Wednesday,” Rodgers told Simmons that the gift of an ACL from a deceased donor helped him shave seconds off his speed by saving 3/10s of a second off his 40-yard dash speed. Rodgers said that he’ll never be able to thank the deceased donor who gave him this gift of tissue but appreciated that someone made the decision to leave a legacy of gifts for other people.
Organ donors saved the lives of Haley and Michaela when they were in high school.
Aaron Rodgers had surgery in 2004 to replace his ACL. A tissue donor gave him the gift of health—and speed!

15. The Power Of Organ, Tissue and Eye Donation
An organ, tissue and cornea donor can make a huge difference in the lives of others! One donor can save 8 lives with the gifts of organs and can save and heal up to 75 lives with the gift of tissues and eyes. Next I’ll tell you which organs and tissues may be donated.
. . . and can save and heal 75 lives through the lifesaving and healing gifts of tissue and cornea donation

16. Organs And Tissues That Can Be Donated
The 8 different organs that can be donated to others are:
Heart
two Lungs
Liver
two Kidneys
Small Intestine
Pancreas
Tissues that can be donated are:
Corneas – the cornea is the clear covering over the eye, not the eye globe
Tendons, such as an ACL for sports-related injuries
Heart valves
Veins
Skin
Bones

17. Lifesaving Organ Transplants Are Needed:
Heart - Congenital Heart Disease, Coronary Artery Disease, Cardiomyopathy, Valvular Heart Diseases
Lung - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Emphysema, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Hypertension, Congenital Defects
Liver - Hepatitis, Biliary Disease, Tumors, Liver Cancer, Cirrhosis
Kidney - Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, End Stage Renal Disease, Polycystic Kidney Disease
Pancreas - Type 1 Diabetes without Renal Disease, Hypoglycemic Unawareness, Pancreas after Kidney Transplant
Small Intestines – Short Gut Syndrome, Severe Vascular Disease, Children with Intestinal Failure who can’t absorb nutrients from foods
These are some of the reasons that organ transplants are needed (read through the slide)

18. Lifesaving Or Healing Tissue Transplants Are Needed:
Corneas – restore loss of vision, cornea infection or injury
Tendons and Ligaments – sports injuries such as replacing an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament); restore mobility for patients undergoing joint restoration
Heart Valves – replace damaged heart valves
Veins – coronary artery bypass surgery, repair damaged vessels to produce blood flow, create a hemodialysis fistula
Skin – temporary biological “bandages” for burn victims, diabetic wound repair, mastectomy, rotator cuff reconstruction, and abdominal wall reinforcement
Bones – replace or reconstruct bones destroyed by cancerous tumors, trauma or infection; used in dental, spine, and neck surgeries
These are some of the reasons that tissue transplants are needed (read through the slide):

19. The Differences Between Organ Donation And Tissue And Eye Donation
Organs may only be recovered if a patient dies while on a mechanical ventilator in a hospital and that occurs in fewer than 5% of all deaths
Organs must be properly preserved and quickly transplanted
Organ transplantation is a life-saving procedure
Tissues and Cornea Donation
Tissue recovery occurs within the first 24 hours after the heart stops beating
Tissues can be preserved for use at a later date so immediate transplantation is not necessary
Tissue donation is either a life-saving or life-enhancing procedure, allowing people to live pain free with increased mobility or gain sight
There are differences between solid organ donation of hearts, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas and small intestines and the donation of tissues or corneas.
I’ll review two different types of donation (read bullets).

20. Wisconsin Online Donor Registry: DonateLifeWisconsin
Wisconsin Online Donor Registry: DonateLifeWisconsin.org or DoneVidaWisconsin.org
Launched on March 29, 2010—those who received the orange donor dot on a driver’s license or state I.D. after March 29, 2010 are registered in Wisconsin’s online registry
A secure, online portal for residents aged 15½ years and older that legally registers your donation decision
A legal (first person authorization) for organ, tissue and eye donation for transplant, research and education for those 18 and older that next-of-kin is unable to overrule
Minors under 18 years of age may still have their online donor registration overruled by their next-of-kin
The registry saves lives! Donation professionals have real-time access to the donation decisions that saves valuable time.
The online Wisconsin Donor registry was launched in March Anyone who received a new or renewed license at the DMV since March, 2010 is in the state online donor registry. However, you may have family members who received or renewed their license prior to March 2010 who have the orange donor dot on their license. Encourage them to register online before they go to the DMV to renew their license.
The online registry can be reached through a link at DonateLifeWisconsin.or, or DoneVidaWisconsin.org, that are secure portals for Wisconsin residents 15½ years and older to legally register their donation decision.
The online registry is the only legal, first person authorization of someone’s wish to be a donor.
Please be aware that as minors under the age of 18 you may still have your online registration overruled by your parents or guardians. It’s very important that you discuss your decision with your family so they are aware of your feelings.
All state online registries provide a quick, real-time access to registered donor data across the U.S. by the recovery agencies.

21. Wisconsin Donor Registry “Yes” Data
Our state is fortunate that close to 60% of eligible Wisconsinites have said “Yes!” to organ, tissue and eye donation for transplantation, research and education.
Yet, there is still opportunity to educate and encourage others to register as donors.
Organ, tissue and eye donation is an amazing gift of hope for those who are suffering with a life-threatening illness or serious disease.
While we’re pleased, and fortunate, that almost 60% of Wisconsinites have registered, that means that 44% of Wisconsinites who are 15½ or older are not registered. That’s still a large population of 2,000,000 people to reach and educate so they can make an informed decision about registering as a donor.

22. How Can Registering As A Donor Affect Me?
First, we can become ill or injured at any time and a transplanted organ or tissue would be part of the treatment.
Second, consider if you had a family member or friend who suffers with one of these medical issues…
end stage organ failure
severe burns over a large percentage of their body
bone cancer and limb amputation was discussed
cornea damage and is legally blind
Wouldn’t you want the “gift of hope” with an organ, tissue or corneal transplant to be available for those in need?
Register today at DonateLifeWisconsin.org or DoneVidaWisconsin.org!
→ Both English and Spanish language registration available
Read slide
Some of you may have questions about organ, tissue and eye donation. I’ll cover 12 of the most frequently asked questions and their answers to provide additional information to help you make your decision.

23. The Facts About Organ Donation
Who can be a donor?
Anyone can register
Age is not a barrier
Donation professionals review a patient’s medical record and social history to determine eligibility
Will doctors try to save me?
Yes!
Doctors and medical teams will do all they can to save your life
Donation only occurs after a patient is declared dead
Who decides if I become a donor if I’m not registered?
You legally authorize first person consent when you register on your state’s online registry, the national registry, or at the DMV
When your decision isn’t documented in a state or national online registry your next-of-kin decides
Read each question and the bold answers

24. The Facts About Organ Donation
Does donation disfigure the body?
Open casket funerals can occur following donation
Organs are removed during a surgical procedure in an operating room
Areas where tissue donation occur are reconstructed and concealed by clothing
Does donation delay a funeral? No
The act of donation doesn’t cause untimely delays for the funeral
The recovering agency ensures that the donor’s body is released to the funeral home on time
Is there a cost to the donor or their family?
If you are a donor, your family or your insurance doesn’t pay any bills or costs related to the donation
Your family does pay the cost of funeral expenses
Read each question and the bold answers

25. The Facts About Organ Donation
Are organs transplanted locally?
Yes, when there are local or regional recipients who match the organ and no other kidney waitlist patients in the U.S. who are a perfect match
Approximately 85 – 90% of all organs donated in Wisconsin are used for transplant in Wisconsin
Do the wealthy or celebrities get priority for a transplant?
No, the national system ensures that a donor is matched with the best possible recipient with the most medical need and who has been waiting the longest
Race, gender, age, financial or celebrity status aren’t factors in selecting recipients
How do religions feel about organ donation?
Organ donation is considered a charitable act of widely-known religions
Please consult your faith leader if you are unsure about your religion’s position on organ donation
Read each question and the bold answers

26. The Facts About Organ Donation
Can you legally pay someone to donate an organ in the U.S?
Federal law prohibits the purchase and sale of organs for transplantation in the U.S.
The national system matching donor organs to recipients is regulated by the Federal Government
Are the donor family and recipients able to meet?
Initial contacts are coordinated by the recovery organization to protect the confidentiality of the donor, donor family, and recipients
Meetings can be arranged if both parties sign a consent form to release their contact information
What is the success rate for organ, tissue and eye donation?
High - The success rate for transplanted organs is 80 – 90% depending upon the type of organ and the type of donor (living or deceased)
Cornea transplant procedures experience a 95% success rate
There are over 1,000,000 successful tissue transplants each year!
Read each question and the bold answers

27. What Are My Next Steps? Decide Document Discuss
Get the facts to answer your questions at
Make an informed decision
Document
Register at DonateLifeWisconsin.org, DoneVidaWisconsin.org or at the DMV
Registering ensures that your first person authorization is legally recorded
Discuss
What are your next steps?
First, it’s O.K. if you make a decision not to register as a donor, just remember that if something tragic does happen to you, then your family has to make that decision at a very difficult time for them. The sad circumstances that often accompanies donation is no time for families to be surprised, or confused, about their loved one’s final wishes. It’s very important that you speak about your personal perspective regarding donation so that you’re family understands how you feel about this decision
Remember these 3 actions as your next steps:
Decide – Get the facts about organ, tissue and eye donation to answer your questions and be able to make an informed decision. I hope that you’ve learned some new facts from me today.
Document – register either online or at the DMV when you get your driver’s license. Also, remember to register every time you renew your license to legally record your decision
Discuss – talking with your family makes sure that they’re aware of your feelings about organ, tissue and eye donation
Talk to your family and share your decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor so they’re aware of your feelings about organ donation
Those under 18 years of age may still have their donation decision overruled by their next-of-kin

28. Donation Saves Lives!
Registered donors can save people like these who are thankful organ recipients!
Donation saves lives! There are many grateful recipients who were given the gift of hope with an organ transplant and are living healthier and happier lives as a result of the gifts from others!
Do you have any questions?