Outline For A Speech On The Gift Of Life

A continuing problem exists in trying to close the gap between the supply and demand of procured organs in the United States. An increase in the amount of transplant operations performed has risen significantly over time. As a result, a new name is added to the national waiting list every 16 minutes (Duan, Gibbons, & Meltzer, 2000). It is estimated that about 100,000 individuals are on the national transplant waiting list at all times (Munson, 2012). Something needs to be done before these numbers get completely out of control. Despite the introduction of Gift of Life and many other educational efforts, the United

Today we are in great need of a solution to solve the problem of the shortage of human organs available for transplant. The website for Donate Life America estimates that in the United States over 100 people per day are added to the current list of over 100,000 men, women, and children that are waiting for life-saving transplants. Sadly enough, approximately 18 people a day on that list die just because they cannot outlive the wait for the organ that they so desperately need to survive. James Burdick, director of the Division of Transplantation for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services confirms, “The need for organ transplants continues to grow and this demand continues to outpace the supply of transplantable organs”. The

Imagine you are laying in a hospital bed connected to multiple machines, IV’s and monitors. The only thing keeping you alive is the heart and lung machine, the team of doctors, nurses and specialist. Even with the help of modern medicine you will only remain alive as long as you stay in that hospital bed; attached to those lifesaving machines. Even with the help of those machines your life is not guaranteed. Now imagine knowing that the only thing that can save your life is a heart transplant, and having to wait your turn on a very long list to get one.

How do you feel when you’re waiting for something you really really want? Or what if it’s not even something you want, but something you need? Something you cannot live without? Now imagine yourself in a dark, gloomy hospital room waiting to receive an organ that is crucial to your survival? Imagine knowing that there are over 110,000 other

Now that organ transplantation has become a popular medical solution to end-stage organ failure, about every 10 minutes another person in need of an

Recent medical advances have greatly enhanced the ability to successfully transplant organs and tissue. Forty-five years ago the first successful kidney transplant was performed in the United States, followed twenty years later by the first heart transplant. Statistics from the United Network for Organ Sharing (ONOS) indicate that in 1998 a total of 20,961 transplants were performed in the United States. Although the number of transplants has risen sharply in recent years, the demand for organs far outweighs the supply. To date, more than 65,000 people are on the national organ transplant waiting list and about 4,000 of them will die this year- about 11 every day- while waiting for a chance to extend their life through organ donation

The United States has a significant shortage of organ donors, and therefore every year numerous people die waiting on transplant lists. However, to get on the transplant list and to receive an organ is tricky. To be placed on the transplant list you have to be sick, but not too sick. A multitude of people die each year as a result of becoming too sick and then ineligible to receive an organ. Additionally, in order to respect the generous gift of donation organs typically go to patients who are believed to do well. Most people would agree that the sickest peoples should get the organs, but that is not always the case. It is my hope that in the future there will be a rise in organ donors and organs available to transplant. Therefore, there would no longer be waiting lists or having to decide which patients get to receive a transplant and which patients have to remain on the waiting list. Organ donation is an extremely important process because it has the ability to give those at death’s door another chance at

This field of study is quickly growing, but the people waiting for organs is also growing. Those studying organ transplant have said that organ donation is “spoken as a gift of life.”(Shaw, 2015) The waiting line for organs is growing because not as many people have been donating their organs. Every ten minutes someone is added to the waiting list and, on average, 22 people die every day from not getting the organ they need. Around 118,454 people need an organ to save their lives. Out of those 118,454 people, only 75,919 people are active on the organ waiting list. In 2017 about 2,801 organ transplants have been performed so far. They took records starting from January 1, to March 3, 2017. The waiting list has not declined over the years. In fact, it has rose from about 80,000 people in 2003, and was at 120,000 people in 2015. The amount of transplants per year has stayed about even from 2003 to 2015. In 2003, it was about 25,000 performed and in 2015, there was close to 30,000 performed. So even though there has been many advancements in technology and medicine, the amount of donors from 2003 to 2015 has only been about 18,000 per year. When someone donates one organ, it can save up to eight lives. In 2016, the amount of people who need an organ is 33,500. This is the highest amount ever recorded and is the new record. On March 5, 2017, there has been 98,115 people waiting on a kidney. 47

Attention getter: Would you be stunned to acknowledge that an average of 20 individuals die every day because of the lack of accessible organ donors? (Data from Unos)

Organ donation could save the life of so many Individuals. One organ donor can save or significantly improve the lives of a minimum of seven others (Morgan, 2004). There has been a severe shortage in the availability of organ for transplantation. Presently, more than 40,000 patients in the United States are expecting organ transplants and it is guesstimated that about 60,000 people die yearly due to limited availability of organ for transplantation (Skumanich et al., 1996). The demand for organ donor is rising as transplant surgery turn out to be increasingly popular and successful in saving the lives of many individuals. Card

Every two hours someone dies waiting for an organ transplant. 18 people will die each day waiting for an organ. One organ donor can save up to 8 lives. . THE NEED IS REAL

There is a need of organ donors. People are add it to the waiting list every ten minutes. Also, the waiting time for organ transplant can take days, months or even years. Meanwhile, people are waiting for an organ that many times do not come on time. Sadly, people are dying, without hope. A person can donate organs such lungs, heart, liver, intestines, pancreas and kidneys. The process of organ donations is a voluntary act of enrolling in their state’s donor registry. And even more it is Free!

Tie To Audience: This may not seem like a direct problem for any of you at this moment, but no one can predict when or if a family member or someone one you love, might need an organ transplant. So in that event, wouldn’t you want people like yourself on the donor list?

Every thirty minutes someone gets added to the waiting list for an organ transplant (‘Frequently Asked Questions”). Not only that, but the number of patients being added to the waiting list is growing larger than the number of donors (“Organ Donation Statistics”). Many people are in the need of some kind of organ donation, so anyone who donates can help to save many lives. Organ donation is also such a great way to give back to people. Another thing is that to donate an organ a person does not have to pay money (“Organ Donation FAQ’s”). The only part that costs money is for the funeral if they are a deceased donor (“Organ Donation FAQ’s”).

As of November 30th, 2017, 116,080 people formed the organ transplant waiting list. On average, twenty people on this list will die today. The number of people that need an organ transplant continues to grow; every ten minutes a new name is added to the list. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, “only 3 in 1,000 people die in a way that allows for organ donation” (“Organ Donation Statistics”). In order for a deceased person to give organs, the organs must still be alive to donate. Organ transplantation improved greatly over the last century, but with an insufficient amount of organs available, it limits breakthroughs. In essence, new methods need to replace the unavailable organs. These methods drastically improve the process of organ transplantation, and in the future, the overall humans well-being.