Right now, over 600 people are waiting for organ transplants in Alberta, and thousands are waiting for tissue transplants.  

The need for organ and tissue donations is being highlighted during the month of February.  Dr. Andreas Kramer is the Medical Director for the Southern Alberta Organ and Tissue Donation Program and explains that people on the wait list range from, "people who have end stage kidney disease and are on dialysis and would benefit from a kidney transplant, people with cirrhosis, end stage liver disease who might die if they don't have a liver transplant in the near future to people who need heart and lung transplants."  

Dr. Kramer says there are two types of organ donors,  "What most people think of is a deceased organ donor, a person who dies and their organs are procured and transplanted into another person and there's also living organ donors where an altruistic individual might give one of their kidneys or a portion of their liver to other people in need."

Of the 600 people on the organ waiting list, about half are on dialysis waiting for a kidney transplant according to Dr. Kramer,  "Liver would be the second most needed organ and then lungs, heart and pancreas."

While organ donation gets most of the press, Dr. Kramer says tissue donation is just as crucial,  "Relatively few people who die are eligible to be organ donors for various reasons, but many more can be tissue donors.  This would include the donation of a cornea, the donation of a heart valve, it can mean skin for a patient with severe burns.  Many, many more people who pass away can also be tissue donors, and there's a huge need."

A single organ donor can save up to eight lives and one tissue donor can make life better for up to 75 other people.

330,000 Albertans have registered with the Alberta Organ and Tissue Donation Registry since it's launch three years ago.

When asked what he would say to someone considering becoming an organ donor, Dr. Kramer replied, "A common slogan I've heard is 'you can't take your organs to heaven, and I think that's true, and there are plenty of people who could benefit and have their life radically improved with an organ transplant." 

To register for the program or learn more about organ and tissue donations, visit ultimategiftalberta.ca

Questions, comments or story ideas? Email us at news@discoverairdrie.com