If you have a medical condition that may cause one or more of your vital organs to fail, transplantation may be a treatment option. A transplant is a surgical operation to give a functioning human organ to someone whose organ has stopped working or is close to failing. In some cases, a living person can donate all or part of a functioning organ. In other instances, the donor would be someone who has recently passed away.

• The eight vital organs that can be donated are heart, kidneys (2), pancreas, lungs (2), liver, and intestines.

• Donated corneas help restore sight.

• Skin grafts heal burn victims and are used for breast reconstruction post-mastectomy.

• Healthy heart valves are life-saving to those with diseased valves.

• Bone grafts, ligament and tendons are used to repair injured or diseases bones and joints.

The number of patients waiting for organs varies every day. As of October 2021, the number is over 100,000. Every 10 minutes, another person is added to the waiting list. The number of people requiring a lifesaving transplant continues to rise faster than the number of available donors.

No. The decision to be an organ donor will in no way affect the level of medical care for a sick or injured person. The team of doctors and nurses involved in treating the patient is not involved with the recovery/transplant team, which is called only after death has occurred. 

All major religions support donation and consider it the greatest gift a person can give. Click here to learn more.

There is never a charge to the family or estate of the donor for organ and tissue recovery. The donor family pays only for medical expenses before death and costs associated with funeral arrangements. All associated recovery costs are paid by NJ Sharing Network. It is an altruistic gift and by law, NJ Sharing Network is not able to pay for any other funeral or hospital charges unrelated to the donation process.

During the recovery procedure, the utmost care and respect is given to the donor’s body and every effort is made to meet your needs. Donated organs and tissue are removed by skilled medical professionals in a sterile surgical procedure. An open casket funeral is possible for organ and tissue donors, and funeral arrangements can continue as planned following donation. 

No. A national system matches available organs from the donor with people on the waiting list based on blood type, body size, how sick they are, donor distance, tissue type and time on the list. Race, income, gender, celebrity and social status are never considered.

Some transplant candidates and recipients have difficulty affording the cost of a transplant or related expenses such as travel, lodging and post-transplant medications. There are a number of local, regional and national organizations that provide some assistance through grants or services. In individual cases, local community organizations or faith groups may be able to help, and friends and families may solicit funds through public events or appeals. Every transplant program has a social worker or financial coordinator who can work with you and advise you on insurance and funding options.

Many different medical and logistical characteristics are considered for an organ to be distributed to the best-matched potential recipient. While the specific criteria differ for various organs, matching criteria generally include:

• blood type and size of the organ(s) needed

• time spent awaiting a transplant

• the relative distance between donor and recipient.

For certain organs other factors are vital, including:

• the medical urgency of the recipient

• the degree of immune-system match between donor and recipient

• whether the recipient is a child or an adult.

Although donation and transplantation can take place successfully between individuals from different racial or ethnic groups, transplant success is often better when organs are matched between people of the same racial or ethnic background. People of African American/Black, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native and multiracial descent currently make up nearly 58% of individuals on the national organ transplant waiting list. These communities are in great need of more organ and tissue donors.

More than half of all people on the transplant waiting list are from a racial or ethnic minority group. That is because some diseases that cause end-stage organ failure are more common in these populations than in the general population. For example, African Americans, Asians, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics/Latinos are three times more likely than Caucasians to suffer from end-stage renal (kidney) disease, often as the result of high blood pressure. Native Americans are four times more likely than Caucasians to suffer from diabetes. An organ transplant is sometimes the best—or only—option for saving a life.

You can register on the National Donate Life Registry by clicking here or through the Health app on your iPhone. You can also register on the NJ State Registry by visiting your local MVC office. 

When you register as an organ and tissue donor through the NJ Sharing Network site or at www.RegisterMe.org, you are registering on the National Donate Life Registry. When you register through your local MVC, you are registering on the NJ state registry. Regardless of which you choose, you will be registered as an organ and tissue donor. Advantages of registering on the National Donate Life Registry are that your donor designation will travel with you across state lines, has no expiration date and does not need to be renewed. If you register on the NJ state registry, you will need to renew your donor designation every time you renew your driver license or state issued ID. Either way, be sure to tell your family about your decision. If the time comes, they won’t be surprised and they can help carry out your wishes. They may be asked to provide information to the transplant team.

The National Donate Life Registry authorizes the recovery of organs, eyes and tissue for transplant. If organs are not suitable for donation at the time of death, the family will have the option to donate to research. 

You may register as a donor if you are under 18. Such a registration is considered intent, not authorization, to donate. If a minor is ever in a position to be an actual donor, the family's permission will be required. Once the minor turns 18, he/she will be contacted and asked to update his/her record. If this step is complete, the registration will be considered full legal authorization. If not, the document of gift will be noted as registered while under 18 years old and as such will be considered intent to donate, which will be shared with the family. 

If you registered on the National Donate Life Registry, you can access your donor record by visiting www.registerme.org and clicking the blue “Edit Registration” button. You will be asked to enter a few key data fields (e.g., name, address, last 4 of SSN) to log in to your donor record and can then update your designation. If you registered through an MVC and wish to change your donor designation, a Change of Status form is available for download here. To change your organ donor status on your driver's license or non-driver ID card, please visit a motor vehicle agency.

That’s an important step, but it’s also important to share your wishes with your family. Most families want to carry out the wishes of their loved one, so please be sure to tell them how you feel.

Any indication of donation is helpful, but registering and letting your family know your decision will ensure your donation wishes are upheld. To register as an organ and tissue donor, click here for the National Donate Life Registry.