The Manitoba Driver, from Manitoba Public Insurance
April 2008

About 400 words
Organ donation: as simple as signing a small blue card

With about 150 Manitobans on the waiting list for a kidney transplant, and another 200 being evaluated for one, there’s never been a better time to consider becoming an organ donor.

“People don’t realize the impact they can make if they become an organ donor,” says Sybil Stokoloff, Communications Co-ordinator with Transplant Manitoba-Gift of Life Program.

“Becoming an organ donor is as easy as signing the blue organ donor card. It takes about two seconds to sign, but it’s a legacy which will live on for years and years,” says Stokoloff. “It is equally important for your family to know your wishes regarding this issue, so make sure you share your decision with them.”

National Organ Donor week runs April 20-27.

The blue organ donation card ― which fits in a wallet ― can be obtained at any Manitoba Public Insurance outlet, Autopac broker or downloaded from the Transplant Manitoba-Gift of Life Program website: www.transplantmanitoba.ca.

Transplant Manitoba performed 52 kidney transplants in Manitoba last year – its best year since the program’s inception in 1969. Living donors accounted for 22 of those and the rest were the result of Manitoba families being committed to seeing their loved one’s wishes fulfilled.

The program has performed 100 kidney transplants in the last two years, an increase of 72 per cent compared to 2004 and 2005, Stokoloff says.

Everyone has the potential to be an organ donor. Generally, organ donors are healthy people who have suffered an injury to the brain resulting in brain death. The health of the donor, not the age, is the most important thing considered.

“One organ and tissue donor can help as many as 10 people,” says Stokoloff. “One donor can potentially provide two kidneys, lungs, two corneas, liver, heart, pancreas, small bowel, skin tissue and bone.”

Nationally, about 4,000 Canadians are waiting for a transplant. It’s estimated 20 to 30 per cent of those people will die before they receive that transplant.

“Donating your organs can change the lives for so many who wait for a second chance at life,” says Stokoloff. “Please sign a donor card and make organ donation your gift for life.”

--30--

© 2008 Manitoba Public Insurance

Downloadable high resolution images
(right click on the thumbnail below and choose "Save Target As...)