Donor Organs: Why Take Them With You?
Reporting
Dennis Douda, WCCO CBS
Dennis Douda, WCCO CBS
Three to five years. That's how long the average wait is for someone in need of a life-saving donor kidney. The latest update from the National Institute of Health shows 107,861 Americans on waiting lists for hearts, kidneys, livers, etc. It also shows there have been just 2,221 donors over the past 12 months.
Sandy Romberg's son Jesse had made clear to his family that, if he were to die prematurely, he definitely wanted his organs used to help others. He had confirmed his decision with a "Donor" designation on his driver's license.
Jesse was just 24 years old when he was declared brain dead after an industrial accident in October 2006.
"I'm extremely proud of my son for making this choice to donate his organs," Romberg said.
Stepfather Cliff Romberg speaks of the lives Jesse's gifts were able to change.
"It really helped to know that there was some good that came out of the accident," he said.
A 39-year-old man named Todd wrote the Romberg's a letter after receiving Jesse's heart. A line of the letter read, "Best of all I can spend time with my nieces and nephews and they don't have to come to a hospital to see me."
Others patients received Jesse's kidneys, pancreas and liver. His family has all the recipients' gratitude and an appreciation that Jesse made his wishes so clear, long before tragedy stuck.
In Minnesota about 50 percent of residents agree to become potential organ donors at the time they have a driver's license issued. That compares to 37 percent nationally. Still the need is mind-boggling.
"We could fill every seat in Target Field two and a half times and still have only standing room for those who are waiting for life-saving transplants," said Susan Gunderson, CEO of the non-profit, St. Paul-based organ donation group LifeSource.
Organs and tissues from one deceased donor have the potential to help up to 60 individuals.
Sandy Romberg's son Jesse had made clear to his family that, if he were to die prematurely, he definitely wanted his organs used to help others. He had confirmed his decision with a "Donor" designation on his driver's license.
Jesse was just 24 years old when he was declared brain dead after an industrial accident in October 2006.
"I'm extremely proud of my son for making this choice to donate his organs," Romberg said.
Stepfather Cliff Romberg speaks of the lives Jesse's gifts were able to change.
"It really helped to know that there was some good that came out of the accident," he said.
A 39-year-old man named Todd wrote the Romberg's a letter after receiving Jesse's heart. A line of the letter read, "Best of all I can spend time with my nieces and nephews and they don't have to come to a hospital to see me."
Others patients received Jesse's kidneys, pancreas and liver. His family has all the recipients' gratitude and an appreciation that Jesse made his wishes so clear, long before tragedy stuck.
In Minnesota about 50 percent of residents agree to become potential organ donors at the time they have a driver's license issued. That compares to 37 percent nationally. Still the need is mind-boggling.
"We could fill every seat in Target Field two and a half times and still have only standing room for those who are waiting for life-saving transplants," said Susan Gunderson, CEO of the non-profit, St. Paul-based organ donation group LifeSource.
Organs and tissues from one deceased donor have the potential to help up to 60 individuals.
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