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Giving life to others: Tani's gift

Tani Goodman's promising life ended tragically in an accident when he was just 17, but in his family's eyes, his spirit lives on, thanks to the medical miracle of organ donation.

Six people have either had their lives saved or reaped tremendous health benefits as a result of receiving Tani's organs. These new leases on life bring great comfort to Tani's family.

"We understand nothing will bring my brother back, but knowing his organs are in other people is a good feeling," says his sister, Yael. "His spirit is living - the spirit of giving." Yael says Tani would have wanted his organs donated and the family felt it was "the right thing to do."

Today, the Goodmans keep in touch with the beneficiaries of Tani's organs and are actively involved in promoting the cause of organ donation.

Although the Goodmans' story is heartwarming, it is not nearly as common as it could or should be. According to the International Association for Organ Donation, a new patient joins the list of people in need of an organ every 13 minutes.

These numbers highlight the growing need for organs and the importance of people making their wishes known that they would, if possible, be willing to donate.

The need for donors

There are over 4,000 people in Canada right now who are waiting for a solid-organ transplant. If they receive the organ or organs they need, their lives could be saved or greatly enhanced.

The number of transplants performed in Canada is over 2,000, a number that has remained virtually the same in recent years. The need for organ and tissue donations will only rise over time due to our aging population. The last decade has also seen an increase in the need for organ donation. For example, the incidence of end-stage renal disease has increased quite a bit, causing an increase in the demand for kidney donation.

A new lung may turn their gasping breaths into effortless ones; a new liver or kidney could cleanse their bodies of waste; a new cornea could bring into focus their blurred vision.

At the same time, if would-be recipients don't undergo an organ transplant, death or protracted illness may be the result.

Almost 300 Canadians die each year while waiting for an organ transplant. Underlying this unfortunate statistic is the fact that Canada has one of the lowest rates of organ donation in the industrialized world. About 16 in every million people in Canada donate, which pales in comparison with countries such as France, Spain, and the United States, which have donor rates ranging from 26 to 36 per million.

The following table shows the discrepancy between the number of people waiting for an organ and the actual number who underwent a transplant in Canada.

Year Transplants Waiting list
2000 1882 3800
2001 1785 3964
2002 1789 3956
2003 1801 3914
2004 1773 4013
2005 1905 4025
2006 2160 4240
2007 2188 4195
2008 2083 4380
2009 2138 3796
2010 2153 4529
2011 2169 4660
2012 1878 3404

The low donor rate has partly led to demand outstripping the supply. But when the supply is there, lives are forever altered. Thanks to advances in medical technology and surgeon training, many forms of transplants are performed with high success rates. In Canada, the average success rate of adults is between 85% and 90%. 

The main organs and tissues donated after a person dies are kidneys, corneas, heart, liver, lungs, pancreas, bowel, bone, eye tissue, and skin.

There is no age restriction dictating who can and cannot donate their organs. Nothing regarding your final wishes upon your death (i.e., funeral arrangements) changes, and there is no additional charge to you or your family. Your general health and underlying medical history are more important in determining whether or not you could donate your organs. And don't underestimate their usefulness - even if you wear glasses because of poor vision, for instance, you can still donate your corneas.

So why would you want to donate? Donated organs don't just positively impact the life of the person who receives them, they may also bring purpose to the family of the donor. In fact, studies have shown that families who have donated the organs of a deceased relative feel comforted and consoled knowing their loss has served a dignified purpose.

Organ donation and religion

Some people may worry that organ donation breaches tenets of their religion. A cursory reading of some religious texts may lead to this conclusion, but the reality is that, although some groups discourage organ donation, major world religions permit and in fact encourage the practice.

Laws in Judaism and Islam, for instance, prohibit desecration of the human body. But both religions note that prohibition is trumped when it comes to saving a life. In fact, Judaism considers post-mortem organ donation in order to preserve a life to be a "mitzvah" - a worthy deed.

The late Pope John Paul II was once quoted as saying that "any act that can save a life, such as organ donation, is a great thing and quite acceptable within our faith." Such a view dates back to Jesus himself, who championed healing the sick as one of his cardinal beliefs and practices.

Similar support for organ donation is found in many other faiths, such as Hinduism and Buddhism. The Hindu Temple Society of North America has stated that Hindus are not prohibited from donating organs and that choosing to do so is entirely up to the individual.

Reverend Gyomay Masao, president and founder of The Buddhist Temple of Chicago, says, "We honor those people who donate their bodies and organs to the advancement of medical science and to saving lives."

Even groups such as the Christian Scientists and the Jehovah's Witnesses, often thought to be sternly against organ donation, leave the decision to the individual, although the Jehovah's Witnesses require the removal of all blood from the organ before transplantation.

Seventh-Day Adventists, known for a strong focus on health and clean living, strongly encourage organ donation and run hospitals specializing in it.

Preventing the death or suffering of others is held in the highest regard by all faiths. Ultimately, the choice to do so, according to the various religions, is yours.

Talk to your family about organ donation

In order to be an organ donor, the donor must die from brain death, also referred to as neurological death. In laymen's terms, this form of death results from a severe injury to the brain, whereby the brain ceases to function because of insufficient blood or oxygen. If the person does not die before reaching a hospital, the organs can be kept alive for a short period of time, allowing for them to be donated. This is highly uncommon, occurring in just 1% to 2% of all deaths. People who die from other causes cannot donate organs, although they may still be able to donate tissue, including eyes, skin, bones, veins, and heart valves.

Once a person dies in this manner, consent for organ donation must be given by the family. This typically happens within 24 hours after death, since transplant operations are emergency procedures that need to be carried out with organs that are still functioning properly.

All over Canada, support groups help the donor families deal with their loss.

The decision to donate organs requires much reflection. Families must base their decision on the wishes of their loved one who passed on. So while having "organ donor" noted on your driver's license or carrying a donor card is important, medical staff always discuss the possibility of donation with the person's family before a donation takes place. That is why your family must be made aware of your wishes to donate.

The challenge is that many relatives simply don't know what those wishes are. Studies show about 50% of Canadians are unaware of what their loved ones wanted regarding organ and tissue donations.

These numbers touch on the need for people to express to their families that they would want to be a donor. Depending on where you live, organ donation wishes can be expressed by:

  • signing your health card (in Saskatchewan, an "organ and tissue donor" sticker can be placed on your health services card)
  • specifying it on your driver's license (in P.E.I., the license will have a red heart engraved on it)
  • signing a card from the provincial registry

The registry card can be given to a family member, who would then be able to respect those wishes in the future.

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