SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Good Things Utah) – Annually in April, the United States observes National Donate Life Month, shining a spotlight on organ, eye, bone marrow, and tissue donation and transplantation.
National Donate Life Month pays tribute to and acknowledges individuals who have saved lives by donating organs. The act of organ donation, made possible by the generosity of donor families and donors, is crucial in saving lives through organ transplantation.
This month presents an ideal opportunity to communicate your decision to become a donor to your family, select the organ donor option when renewing your driver’s license, and contemplate the profound impact of sharing a living organ through transplantation.
Currently, there are 104,000 individuals on the transplant list nationwide, awaiting organs such as kidneys, livers, pancreases, hearts, or lungs. Every nine minutes, a new person joins this waitlist.
In Utah alone, 900 people are actively waiting for organ transplants.
Intermountain Health stands out as a leading organ transplant provider in the Intermountain West, offering heart, kidney, liver, pancreas, and bone marrow transplants to individuals in need throughout the region.
The Intermountain Health Transplant program, situated at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, successfully conducted 414 organ transplants in 2023, including 182 liver, 198 kidney, 30 heart, and 4 kidney/pancreas transplants.
Remarkably, the Intermountain Health Transplant Program achieved record-breaking numbers for adult transplants for the fifth consecutive year in 2023, with 2024 poised for another record-breaking year.
Notably, the liver transplant program experienced a significant surge from 104 transplants in 2022 to 182 in 2023, propelling it to the ninth rank among 142 other transplant programs in the United States. This accomplishment is attributed to the program’s exceptionally short organ wait times nationwide.
Enduring Friendships
In 2018, Erika Morton, a 35-year-old resident of Lehi, was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), a chronic liver condition characterized by liver inflammation, scarring, and blocked bile ducts.
Morton was informed by doctors that she would eventually require a living liver transplant. Despite offers from several family members, none were a suitable match. However, last autumn, Morton received news from the Intermountain transplant team that a Good Samaritan donor was a perfect match.
This Good Samaritan turned out to be Shaylin Crandall, a 32-year-old from Springville, who learned about living donors through an Intermountain Health work email. Crandall promptly volunteered and received a call the following week.
However, Crandall’s transplant was postponed by a week due to her contracting COVID. When she shared this news on social media, a mutual acquaintance connected the dots between the two patients. This serendipitous connection led to Crandall and Morton forming an immediate bond, communicating through texts and calls. They met in person for the first time shortly before their surgeries on November 1, 2023.
Crandall expressed her relief at knowing the recipient of her liver, stating, “We immediately clicked, and it was great to go through this together.” Their friendship continues to flourish as they support each other on their paths to recovery. Crandall is even exploring the possibility of donating one of her kidneys.
Intermountain’s liver transplant program has consistently demonstrated superior post-transplant survival rates for over a decade, establishing itself as a pioneer in liver transplantation.
Unlike other programs, Intermountain has undertaken liver transplants in challenging scenarios, such as for cholangiocarcinoma, neuroendocrine tumors, and, more recently, select cases of colorectal cancer.
Approximately 8,000 liver transplants are performed annually in the U.S. Since 1986, Intermountain has averaged nearly 200 liver transplants per year, boasting a remarkable 93% survival rate in the first year.
Dr. Randi Ryan, a transplant surgeon at Intermountain Medical Center, emphasized the institution’s commitment to patient well-being by stating, “We say, ‘Yes’ more often where other programs have said, ‘No,’ enabling our patients to return to their families and lead fulfilling lives.”
Intermountain conducts living kidney and liver donor transplants, effectively reducing the wait time for organ recipients.
The Gift of Life
Living donations play a pivotal role in saving numerous lives annually. Living donors can contribute a portion of their liver, which regenerates, or one of their kidneys.
Given that the body can function normally with just one kidney, kidney transplants from living donors are the most common. This approach is safe, effective, and does not necessitate a biological relationship between the donor and recipient.
Five significant advantages of participating in a living donor transplant include:
- Each living donor transplant eliminates one person from the transplant waiting list, reducing the wait time for the next individual in line for a deceased donor transplant.
- Living donor kidneys often exhibit superior longevity compared to kidneys from deceased donors.
- The surgery can be scheduled in advance, streamlining the process.
- Patients can receive a living donor kidney transplant before initiating dialysis.
- Reduced time spent on dialysis translates to improved overall health outcomes for patients.
Dr. Donald Morris, a nephrologist and the kidney transplant medical director at Intermountain Health, highlighted the transformative impact of living kidney transplants, stating, “On average, a living kidney transplant doubles the recipient’s life expectancy and significantly enhances their quality of life while reducing healthcare costs.”
National Organ Donor Registry
Intermountain’s Transplant Services at Intermountain Medical Center actively participates in the National Kidney Registry (NKR), a nationwide program that facilitates optimal matches between organ donors and recipients across the country.
The NKR operates a unique nationwide organ donor exchange program that coordinates paired exchanges, enabling organ donors to donate their kidneys to recipients beyond their immediate circle in exchange for a compatible kidney for their loved ones.
Empower Lives Through Organ Donation
Remember to discuss your decision to donate organs with your family and indicate your choice on your driver’s license renewal or by visiting the website to register today.
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