May 27-June 2, 2004

mailbag

Letters to the Editor

by the Readers

Life Lines

The shortage of human organs for transplant operations kills more than 6,000 Americans every year ["The $45 Million Man," Amy L. Webb, May 20, 2004]. Most of these deaths are needless. Americans donate only half of the organs that could save lives and relieve suffering. They bury or cremate the rest.

The solution to the organ shortage is simple: If you don't agree to donate your organs when you die, then you go to the back of the waiting list if you ever need an organ to live.

A grassroots group of organ donors called LifeSharers is making this idea a reality one member at a time.

LifeSharers is a nonprofit network of organ donors. Members agree to donate their organs when they die, but they give fellow members "first dibs" on their organs. This creates a pool of organs available first to members. The existence of this pool gives other people an incentive to sign donor cards and join the network, and this incentive grows stronger as the network expands.

Anyone who wants to donate their organs to others who have agreed to donate theirs can join LifeSharers at www.lifesharers.com. Membership is free. LifeSharers has 2,300 members in 49 states and the District of Columbia, including 59 members in Pennsylvania.

David J. Undis,

Executive Director
Nashville, Tenn.

It is unfortunate that the City Paper chose to sensationalize and dehumanize "the gift of life" organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Amy Webb's article with its misleading headlines and inaccurate data is far from what actually happens in our region. The image of a body with price tags attached is an insult to those families who have given a gift or gifts of their loved one so others can live. Families give that gift at the most difficult times in their lives for the purpose of saving or improving the lives of other human beings. It is sad that the City Paper employed this sleazy tactic when so many people are desperately awaiting a life-saving transplant.

Let's talk about the facts:

1. For more than 30 years, Gift of Life Donor Program, the region's organ-procurement organization, has served families in our region to improve the quality of life of patients awaiting organ and tissue transplantation. More than 20,000 patients have received transplants and thousands of others have received tissue transplant allografts.

2. Currently, more than 4,400 people in our region (over 90,000 nationwide) await a life-saving transplant and a second chance at life.

3. Seventeen people die each day in this country due to the critical shortage of organ donors.

Organ donation and transplantation is not about money -- it is about saving lives. I encourage your readers to get the most accurate information regarding organ and tissue donation by calling Gift of Life Donor Program at 800-DONORS-1 or by visiting our Web site at www.donors1.org.

Howard M. Nathan,

President and CEO,

Gift of Life Donor Program
Philadelphia

Correction

In last week's Mixpicks ["Every Body Welcome," Juliet Fletcher, May 20, 2004], Roxy Hammer was listed as Miss All State Mid-Atlantic. Roxy was the runner-up.