Family âKeeps Love Aliveâ by raising awareness about pediatric organ donation
(BPT) - For many people, raising a child is one of life's greatest adventures. If your child is healthy and happy, you're a lucky parent. Not all families are so fortunate. Of more than 100,000 people currently on the national organ transplant waiting list, more than 1,900 are children, over one-third of them under 6 years old. Due to the unique requirements of pediatric organ donation, many continue to wait, hoping for a brighter future.
The unique nature of pediatric organ transplants
The need for organs is only growing, but for many types of transplantation, young children often need to receive an organ from a donor of similar age and size, a requirement that frequently means a lack of availability. Approximately 100 children die each year due to this critical shortage, but they don't have to - just one organ and tissue donor can save up to eight lives and enhance the lives of as many as 75 people.