Blue and Green Day: Raising awareness for organ donation

April 12th is National Donate Life Blue & Green Day. It’s goal is to raise awareness and emphasize the need for organ donation.

Over 8,000 patients die every year in the United States because an organ is not donated in time. About 82% of patients are in need of a kidney.

Locally, Las Palmas Kindney Transplant Center celebrated ten years of performing kidney transplants for over 200 patients. Las Palmas Medical Center introduced kidney transplants and dialysis in 2009 so local patients no longer need to travel long distances for their treatments.

While advocates always encourage anyone to donate, there are are some things to consider.

“If you’re going to donate an organ to a family member during your lifetime, the most import thing is to get tested for it. Number two, remember it’s always an altruistic act. It is an act of love,” says Dr. Carlos Del Coro, a transplant surgeon at Las Palmas Medical Center.

Those who are lucky enough to receive such donations experience great benefits that they would not be able to achieve without a healthy organ.

“I didn’t have to use my insulin anymore, I didn’t have to check my sugar anymore. All these doors that you know were kinda closed, not completely open, opened after my transplant,” says El Pasoan Gladys Gonzalez.

Gladys was in need of a kidney and pancreas transplant, she had to wait two years before getting it. Most people are not that lucky as the average wait time for a kidney is five to ten years. Gladys had this to say to those debating on becoming an organ donor:

“If there’s a part in you that can give the opportunity for somebody else to live a better life, or just to live, I mean why wouldn’t you.”

If you live in Texas and would like to register to be an organ donor you can do so here.