Saving Lives: Texas Organ Donor Registry may be expanded, streamlined
10,000 Texans need transplants, 18 each day in the US die waiting
Dawn Tongish | The 33 News
 

DALLAS, TX— Bryson Lewis plays the trumpet to fill a void. The Lancaster sophomore isn't able to do what other teenagers can because of a rare syndrome. Lewis has no kidneys and undergoes 10 hours each day of dialysis. For two years he has waited for a kidney and the chance for a fresh start.

"There is so much that I haven't done that I would like to do," the 15-year old said.
Lewis found inspiration in former Dallas Cowboy, Ron Springs, who he once met. Springs received a kidney from team mate Everson Walls in 2007. Their story touched hearts, but experts say it is far from the norm to receive a life-saving gift from a friend. Most in need of an organ must wait for a match.

"Some people don't reazlie the need until it hits their family. Until my son's kidney failed, I didn't think about it," Bryson's mother, Cynthia Jefferson, said.

Right now, less than 10% of Texans are registered organ donors, about 1.6 million people. Advocates say the number should be triple that. California started its registry in 2006, the same time as Texas and already has about 8 million donors. But, a proposal in Austin could change the system for Texans.

Authorities say the measure has passed the house and senate and has few hurdles to clear before it goes to the Governor's desk, for his signature. The plan would expand the organ donor registry, giving control to three non-profit groups, instead of the state government.

"We want the registry to be quick and easy," Pam Silvestri, with the Southwest Transplant Alliance, said.

Silvestri says that removing government barriers will improve the number of organ donors.

"We are getting about 75,000 people a month signing up and it should be about 100,000. I think once this bill passes that no question we will get a lot more donors."

But, authorities say the changes will come too late for some needing an organ. Each day in the US about 18 people die waiting for a transplant. There are currently about 10,000 on the list in Texas to receive an organ.