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BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) — Just eight years ago, Jim Knight was in need of a pancreas and kidney transplant. But through the selfless act of charity, Knight received the two organs necessary to return to living a healthy, productive and normal life.
Now celebrating his 50th birthday, Knight will be the first to tell you that though he doesn't like to talk about having accepted a transplant from someone, he is grateful for their donation.
"One organ donor can potentially save the lives of eight people, and enhance (and positively improve) the lives of up to 60 people," Knight said, who is president of the Brunswick Transplant Support Group and a member of LifeLink of Georgia's Brunswick Transplant Awareness Group.
With April being National Donate Life Month, Knight feels now is the time for people to understand that the donation of organ tissue can give someone else a second chance at life.
Unlike Knight, more than 123,000 Americans are waiting for their lifesaving organ or tissue transplants; 4,800 of which are Georgians, according to LifeLink of Georgia, a nonprofit community service organization dedicated to the recovery of organs and tissues for transplantation.
Thanks to the donation of kidneys, hearts, lungs, livers and small intestines, more than 28,000 lives are saved and hundreds of thousands are improved.
Each day an average of 79 people receive organ transplants, however, an average of 21 people die each day waiting for transplants that can't take place because of the shortage of donated organs, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found.
Despite ongoing public education efforts and promotion of organ donation awareness programs, misconceptions about donation transplantations still persist.
That's where BTSG steps in, said Lea King-Badyna.
"There are many people here (in the Golden Isles) that are affected by the issue of organ and tissue donation but may not know about this group. A lot of people don't think about organ donations until they've been touched by the issue ... (and) we want to be the bridge and connection for people who have," King-Badyna said.
That includes organ recipients, donor families/friends and living donors. The group meets at 6 p.m. the second Monday of each month at the Southeast Georgia Health System Brunswick campus.
"We talk about our experiences with organ donations, pre-transplant and post-transplant resources, anything new and cutting edge in medicine as well as help with finding where to get medicines and paying for them. But the main point we try to get across is that you need to discuss your wishes with your family members."
It's something that Knight's wife Debra Horton-Knight, a group member, feels shouldn't be left out the conversation.
"You never want the conversation to be where do you want to give your child's organs" if they've unexpectedly died and you weren't aware that they had signed up to be an organ donor, Horton Knight said.
As of April 3, 5,208 Georgians were registered for an organ donation — 4,667 for kidneys, 272 for livers, 9 for pancreas, 132 for kidneys/pancreas, 92 for hearts, and 36 for lungs.
"Where you'll be called on the list depends on how well you're doing and if you're a match. Since the pressure in my heart isn't as bad anymore, I won't likely be called," Roberts said.
Organ donations aren't limited to organs. They also include cornea and tissue transplants. According to LifeLink of Georgia, there are approximately 30,000 tissue donors and 40,000 cornea donors annually, providing more than 1 million tissue and cornea transplants.
"For many this is the last act of charity," King-Badyna said.
Knight added: "And with this group, we can help those who have questions or concerns so they don't have to get all of their information off the internet like I did," he said.
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Information from: The Brunswick News, http://www.thebrunswicknews.com
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