Source: NBC29 
The number of organ donors is declining in the United States, and for people waiting for their match, one more name on that list could mean life for them.
On Monday, the University of Virginia Medical Center held a donor drive to raise awareness for the registry and in the end, reduce the wait time for people who need it most. According to LifeNet Health, 110,000 people nationwide are waiting for donor organs and in Virginia alone, 2,800 people are waiting.
On his 50th birthday, Paul Poluito, an avid golfer, guitar player, and a father of one, decided to get a routine check-up. It was there that doctors found high liver levels, and eventually fat in his liver.
"They said there wasn't much I could do about that except for diet," said Poluito.
After almost three years things started going downhill.
"It got worse and worse and then it got to cirrhosis and that's when I got put on transplant list."
On March 7, 2008, he received a donated cadaver liver. Poluito was fortunate that his blood type was easy to match. For many people who need an organ, a match is not easy to find.
"We have people who die waiting for organ transplants, sometimes they never get to the point where there is an organ for them that would match them correctly," said Melissa Donovan, a transplant coordinator at UVA Medical Center.
Dr. Kenneth Brayman, chief of the Transplant Division at the UVA Medical Center explained, "The problem in the United States, is there are more people that need transplants then there are available organs."
Donavan sees the benefits of organ transplants in her patients every day, "You can't take them with you when you die so why not give them to someone who needs life."
For some who lose loved ones and their organs are donated, Donavan says it helps them with the grieving process.
"To know that my child or my husband, my cousin saved seven other people's lives … It's amazing, I think it really helps people get through the tough times of death to know that their loved ones saved someone else's life."
Dr. Brayman says a step many people skip after signing up for the registry, is communication with family.
"If you sign up for the registry, that conversation needs to be had with your family members, its sort of share your life, share your wishes."
For those thinking about signing up, Poluito says, "if you really want to be a hero sign a donor card."
To become an organ donor you can stop by the Department of Motor Vehicles or click hereto find out more information on donor services.
The number of organ donors is declining in the United States, and for people waiting for their match, one more name on that list could mean life for them.
On Monday, the University of Virginia Medical Center held a donor drive to raise awareness for the registry and in the end, reduce the wait time for people who need it most. According to LifeNet Health, 110,000 people nationwide are waiting for donor organs and in Virginia alone, 2,800 people are waiting.
On his 50th birthday, Paul Poluito, an avid golfer, guitar player, and a father of one, decided to get a routine check-up. It was there that doctors found high liver levels, and eventually fat in his liver.
"They said there wasn't much I could do about that except for diet," said Poluito.
After almost three years things started going downhill.
"It got worse and worse and then it got to cirrhosis and that's when I got put on transplant list."
On March 7, 2008, he received a donated cadaver liver. Poluito was fortunate that his blood type was easy to match. For many people who need an organ, a match is not easy to find.
"We have people who die waiting for organ transplants, sometimes they never get to the point where there is an organ for them that would match them correctly," said Melissa Donovan, a transplant coordinator at UVA Medical Center.
Dr. Kenneth Brayman, chief of the Transplant Division at the UVA Medical Center explained, "The problem in the United States, is there are more people that need transplants then there are available organs."
Donavan sees the benefits of organ transplants in her patients every day, "You can't take them with you when you die so why not give them to someone who needs life."
For some who lose loved ones and their organs are donated, Donavan says it helps them with the grieving process.
"To know that my child or my husband, my cousin saved seven other people's lives … It's amazing, I think it really helps people get through the tough times of death to know that their loved ones saved someone else's life."
Dr. Brayman says a step many people skip after signing up for the registry, is communication with family.
"If you sign up for the registry, that conversation needs to be had with your family members, its sort of share your life, share your wishes."
For those thinking about signing up, Poluito says, "if you really want to be a hero sign a donor card."
To become an organ donor you can stop by the Department of Motor Vehicles or click hereto find out more information on donor services.
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