With recent advances in medical technology, many more people than ever before can be donors, even those in their 70 s and 80 s. Individuals over the age of 18 can indicate their desire to be an organ and tissue donor by signing a donor card or expressing their wishes to family members. Relatives can also donate a deceased family member s organs and tissues, even those family members under the age of 18. Approximately 22,000 heart, liver, lung, kidney, pancreas and intestine transplants are performed each year. More than 500,000 Americans receive organ, tissue and cornea transplants each year.
Tissue transplants consist of bone, heart valves, tendons, ligaments, corneas and skin.
46,000 sight-restoring cornea transplants are performed every year. There is no cost to be an organ and tissue donor. Donation is a gift. Each year an estimated half-million Americans receive organ and tissue transplants.