For the past two years libraries across Michigan participated in a simple and effective campaign to educate patrons about organ, tissue, and eye donation and offer the opportunity to join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry. This effort was originally spearheaded in 2010 by the University of Michigan's Taubman Health Sciences Library, but has expanded to include libraries on several university campuses across the state; University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint campuses, along with libraries at Eastern Michigan University, and Grand Valley State University. The 2011 collaborative effort resulted in registering 414 new organ donors, reaching over 1500 visitors with information on organ donation and registration information. More than 95% of Americans support organ, tissue and eye donation. In Michigan, only 34% of adults have joined the Michigan Organ Donor Registry, far lower than the 43% average nationwide! That discrepancy is largely due to state residents not knowing how to properly sign up. Michigan Libraries for Life helps to address that informational need. We are excited to bring this life-saving event back in 2012, expanding to include many more public, academic, and special libraries. This year’s 2-day drive will start on Tuesday, October 2nd and run through Wednesday, October 3rd. Participating libraries are welcome to join the effort for as many hours as they are able to staff a registration table, from 2 hours to 2 days. For more information visit: http://sites.google.com/site/michiganlibrariesforlife/

1. Partnering to Save
and Improve Lives
Jennifer Tislerics
Special Events & Partnerships Coordinator
jtislerics@giftoflifemichigan.org
734-922-1048 or 800-482-4881, ext. 1048

2. • Federally designated organ and tissue donation program
for Michigan since 1971.
• Liaison between 175 critical care hospitals and 8
transplant centers
• Strong partner with the Michigan Eye-Bank and Michigan
Secretary of State
• Independent, non-profit based in Ann Arbor
• Maintains the confidential Michigan Organ Donor Registry
What is Gift of Life?

3. What is Gift of Life?
Organ & Tissue Recovery
• Obtain consent & work
with donor families on-site
or by phone
• Locating, matching, tissue
typing for organ
transplants
• Recover organs & tissues
for transplantation,
therapy, education and
research
Education
 Educate hospital staff,
funeral homes, driver ed
students, the public
 Maintain the Michigan
Organ Donor Registry, in
cooperation with the
Secretary of State

4. Why Donation Matters
http://youtu.be/U965-6o4WXE

5. Which Organs Can Be Donated?
•Heart
•Lungs
•Pancreas
•Liver
•Kidneys
•Intestines
• More than 119,000 Americans
are waiting for a transplant
• 3,200 Michigan residents need
an organ transplant
• One donor can save up to 8 lives

6. Who Needs Organ Transplants?
Organ transplantation is the last available option for people
with end-stage organ failure.
Sherry had genetic cardiomyopathy.
Thanks to a generous Michigan family
Sherry received a heart transplant,
allowing her kids to keep their mom.

7. Organ Donation
• 77 patients get a transplant each day in the USA.
• However, 18 people die each day while waiting for an
organ transplant.
• More than 119,000 people are waiting for an organ
transplant nationally.
That’s enough to more than fill Michigan Stadium!

8. Which Tissues Can Be Donated?
•Bone
•Heart Valves
•Veins
•Tendons
•Nerves
•Skin
•Cornea
•Sclera
• Nearly 900,000 tissue
transplants are performed in
the United States each year.
• One in 20 Americans will
need some type of tissue
transplant.
• More than 50 recipients can
benefit from one single
tissue donor.

9. How is Tissue used?
Tissue grafts are widely used in the fields of sports medicine,
orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, cardiovascular surgery,
plastic surgery, dentistry and podiatry.
Kristin received a bone transplant in her
arm (replacing cancerous bone) at age 13,
allowing her to continue playing sports and
following her dreams.
Thanks to her donor family, Kristen is able
to serve her community as a police officer.

10. BEFORE AFTER
The Gift of Sight

11. After a basketball injury
damaged her eye, Gina
received a cornea
transplant. Being able to
see kept her on the court,
and helped her earn both
basketball and academic
scholarships to college. “I am forever grateful to my cornea donor.”
-Gina Gonzales
The Gift of Sight

12. Call to Gift of Life
•Organs: When clinical triggers reached, or brain death testing begins
•Tissue: After death has been declared
Authorization & Medical Suitability
•First Person Authorization, or
•Family approached if wishes unknown
•Organs: Gift of Life staff go on-site to review files,
determine eligibility, talk to hospital staff
•Tissue: Gift of Life staff contact families by phone
Medical/Social History
•Family provides
•Hospital records
•Laboratory testing of blood samples
Matching & Viral Testing
•Gift of Life’s
histocompatibility lab
Recovery
•Current hospital
or surgical center
•After recovery,
the body will be
taken to the
funeral home
The Donation Process

13. Working Across the U.S.A.
Organs are allocated based on:
• Severity of illness
• Blood type
• Size
• Antigens (HLA)
• Geography
• Time Waiting

14. First Person Authorization
• Michigan law passed in 2003
• Signing the back of your license or joining the Michigan
Organ Donor Registry is a legally binding contract
• Next-of-kin can only override the decision if there is
proof that the patient changed his/her mind or did not
want to be a donor.
First Person Authorization means that
the Donor Registry is binding.
Of course, the family’s comfort and
cooperation are still very important.

15. Michigan Organ Donor Registry

16. Mobile Website

17. Why does organ donation affect
ethnic minority communities more?
African Americans are more likely to…
•Have Increased Risk for:
 Heart Disease
 Diabetes, and
 Other conditions that can lead to organ failure
•Find a genetically compatible match within
their own racial or ethnic group
Chef Oliver
recently
received his
second kidney
transplant.

18. Why does organ donation affect
ethnic minority communities more?
African Americans are…
• 12% of the U.S. population
• (14% in Michigan)
• 12% of the donors nationwide
• (20% in Michigan)
• 35% of the national waiting list for kidney
transplants
• 47% of the kidney waiting list in Michigan
Andrea received a kidney
and pancreas transplant.

19. • Provides a positive outcome in
response to an unexplainable loss.
• Offers a rare and unique opportunity to
save and improve the quality of
someone's life.
• Provides an avenue for the decedent to
"live on through the lives of others.”
• Leaves a lasting legacy.
Why Do Families Choose to Donate ?
Chase’s brothers created a triathlon
team in his memory, promoting
donation in all 50 states.

20. Donor Family Follow-Up
• Certificate of Appreciation
• Gift of Life medallion
• Donor Family Gathering
• Donor Family Quilts
• Volunteer opportunities
• Correspondence with recipients
• “The Next Place” book, courtesy of MTF

21. Common Misconceptions
Doctors won’t try as hard to save my life
if they know I signed up.
Gift of Life is not contacted until every
attempt to save the patient’s life
has been tried.
The hospital staff trying to save your
life are completely and legally
separate from the transplant
team.

22. Common Misconceptions
I’m too old to donate.
The oldest organ donors (so far)
have been 93 years old.
The oldest tissue donor was 103.

23. Common Misconceptions
I have [insert name of any disease], you don’t want my organs.
Your medical history at the time of donation
will determine what can be transplanted.
People with cancer, hepatitis, HIV, diabetes
and lupus have become donors!

24. Common Misconceptions
I signed the back of my license, so I’m all signed up.

25. Donation Facts
• There is no cost to donate.
• Funeral arrangements and open casket viewings need not
be affected by donation.
• Most major religions approve of donation and consider it
an act of charity.
– Almost all others support the individual’s right to decide

26. • Wealth and social status do not play a factor in the
waiting list.
• The donor’s family can designate a particular waiting list
candidate to receive the organs or tissues, if it’s a good
medical match.
Donation Facts

27. FAQs
• I'm only 17, do I need parental consent?
– Minors can join the Donor Registry. If still a minor at the time of
donation, LNOK can override that decision.
• My home is in [state/country] and I am only here
for 2 years for school, can I still join the registry?
What does that mean once I go home?
– Donor Registries are state-by-state, but we work cooperatively.
People from all 50 states and Canada are in the Michigan Organ
Donor Registry.

28. FAQs
• Can I specify which organs I want to donate?
– The Donor Registry is not able to track specifications like these, because
medical technology advances rapidly and what can be donated in the future
may not be known today.
However, a “Peace of Mind Registry” is being developed, where you
can upload all your end-of-life decisions, including limitations to
organ, tissue or eye donations.
• Can I get off the registry at a later date?
– Sure, just send us a letter in writing.

29. More Information
GiftOfLifeMichigan.org

30. Running a Drive in Your Library

31. Volunteer Suggestions
• Librarians and library staff
• High school students
• Local Gift of Life volunteers
• Greek system – service clubs
• FRIENDS of the library
• Boy/Girl Scouts seeking community service

32. Registration Tables
• Computer connected to the internet
• Volunteer to assist registration process
• Literature about organ, tissue & eye donation
• Table FAQs and materials to help volunteers
answer questions
• Paper registration forms
• Swag (hearts, cups, pens, etc.)
• Donor quilts

33. Table Setup Ideas

34. Table Setup Ideas

35. Table Setup Ideas

36. Table Setup Ideas

37. Table Setup Ideas

38. Table Setup Ideas

39. Donor Quilts
• Donor families have an
opportunity to create a quilt
square to honor their family
member.
• Quilts and stands can be
shipped to your library free
of charge
• Contact Jennifer Tislerics
to reserve a quilt
www.giftoflifemichigan.org/donor_quilts/

40. Donor Quilts

41. Registration URL
http://bit.ly/ML4Life

42. Website
https://sites.google.com/site/michiganlibraries4life/

43. Facebook
www.facebook.com/ML4Life

44. Tracking Statistics
• Registered at the table
• Already registered
• Just picked up information or asked questions
Send the above stats to Kate at the close of your
drive (kmacdoug@umich.edu)

45. Thank You for Giving the Gift of Hope!