Donate Life: Texas Transplant Center

Transplantation is one of the most remarkable success stories in the history of medicine. But despite continuing advances in medicine and technology, the need for organs and tissue is vastly greater than the number available for transplantation.

At the Texas Transplant Center, we join in recognizing April as National "Donate Life" Month. From the front line of transplant surgery and transplant medicine, we see how donations transform lives. With more than four decades of transplant history and 3,000+ patients, UTMB has been a pioneering force in the field. But without organ donation, none of it would be possible.

Transplantation gives hope to thousands of people with organ failure and provides many others with active and renewed lives. Please explore this page to learn more, and contact us if you have any questions.

Experience real-life stories

Thanks to a cornea transplant, John was able to see again for the first time in 31 years. Learn more		For Tyler, a bone transplant meant the chance to live a normal life again. Learn more
As a kidney recipient and grandfather of a tissue donor, Phil Van Stavern truly knows the power of donating life. Learn more		When Tracy's son gets older, she'll tell him about the transplant that saved her life. Learn more
Read more stories of hope, from Donate Life America. See and read about just a few of our local success stories.
UNOS has developed fact sheets on a range of organ donation and transplantation topics. Take a moment to get a deeper understanding of how organ donation works, and why it's so important: How the transplant system works: matching donors and recipients Living organ donation Organ transplantation and donation facts at a glance Common myths of organ donation Monitoring compliance with organ transplant policy in the United States Theological perspective on organ and tissue donation

QUICKLINKS

Statistics

113,115 Patients Waiting*

63,016 Multicultural Patients*

1,801 Pediatric Patients*

28,535 Organ Transplants Performed in 2011

14,144 Organ Donors in 2011

*as of March 2012

Although there have been advances in medical technology and donation, the demand for organ, eye and tissue donation still vastly exceeds the number of donors. For more information, read the summary below or create a detailed data report on the UNOS Web site.

More than 100,000 men, women and children currently need life-saving organ transplants.
Every 10 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.
According to research, 98% of all adults have heard about organ donation and 86% have heard of tissue donation.
90% of Americans say they support donation, but only 30% know the essential steps to take to be a donor.

www.unos.org
Created and maintained by United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), www.unos.org is the organ transplantation information resource for medical professionals and the general public. UNOS brings together medicine, science, public policy and technology to facilitate every organ transplant performed in the United States.

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www.donatelife.net
Donate Life America, comprised of national organizations and 50 state teams across the United States, was founded by the transplant community in 1992 to educate the public about organ, eye and tissue donation. It offers information, true life stories, and educational material to inform and inspire the public.