Donor Registration Matters to Those Who Wait
The majority of Americans—95% are in favor of organ donation. But only 58% are actually registered.
That’s a big gap to close and an important one. As the transplant waiting list grows each day, a boost in registration numbers gives people hope and a second chance at life.
In our service area of Northern California and Northern Nevada the need is great:
- More than 700 Nevadans are waiting
- More than 20,000 Californians are waiting
People in need of a transplant can expect the following wait times on average for a life-saving organ:
- Liver: The average waiting time for a liver transplant from a deceased donor can vary from 30 days to over 5 years.
- Heart: The national average wait time is 4 months
- Lungs: The national average wait time is 4 months
- Pancreas: The national average wait time is 2 years for a pancreas
- Kidney: The national average wait time is 5 years, but it can be longer in some parts of the country. However, if you find a living donor, the average wait is usually 3–6 months.
Less than 1% of donors end up meeting the specific medical criteria to donate their organs and tissue.