Posts Tagged ‘black history month’

Organ donation in the African American Community

Tuesday, February 21st, 2012

There is no time like the present to help celebrate Black History Month by signing up to become an organ donor and making the commitment to give back. New York State has the 3rd lowest rate of donation in the country, while at the same time having the 3rd highest number of people waiting for a life saving transplant on the waiting list. Many people would be surprised to learn that African Americans make up a great amount of those waiting.

The need for life saving organ transplants in African Americans is often due to the rate of high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes and heart disease among those of African American descent. Although African American’s make up a great amount of the population waiting for a life saving organ, many African American’s are reluctant to sign up to become an organ donor themselves. Because of this many African Americans may have to wait longer to receive a life saving transplant, getting sicker over time and possibly even dying waiting for the organs they need.

It is beneficial for African Americans to receive organs from their own ethnicity because certain blood types are more prevalent in African Americans such as O+ and A+. Matching blood types is necessary for transplantation and therefore the need for African American organ donors is especially high. Receiving an organ from another member of the African American community also results in less chance of organ rejection.

It is up to us to help close the gap between the number of African Americans needing a life saving organ transplant and the number of African American donors currently enrolled in the organ donor registry. Signup for the New York State Donate Life Registry now by visiting unyts.org today!

Alonzo Mourning – NBA All-Star and Kidney Transplant Recipient

Former Miami Heat star and recent star of the New Jersey Nets, Alonzo Mourning took a giant step against kidney disease on Friday, December 19, 2003 when he underwent a kidney transplant at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center. Mark A. Hardy, MD, Auchincloss Professor of Surgery at Columbia, performed the transplant. Mr. Mourning was diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in October 2000. The disease affects the filters of the kidney that remove toxins from the blood.

A kidney transplant functions at its best as a very effective treatment of renal disease, allowing the patient to function normally with few dietary restrictions, minor physical limitations and continued maintenance on medications. In regards to the success of Mr. Mourning’s transplant, Dr. Hardy says, “I am very optimistic that Mr. Mourning’s transplanted kidney will function well for a long time. And I look forward to Mr. Mourning’s increased activities in promulgating organ donation to the American public, which I expect to be highly productive and beneficial to the many patients waiting for organs on the transplantation lists.” (Department of Surgery)

Alonzo Mourning for Organ Donation VIDEO (Organdonor.gov)

Sources: Us Department of Health and Human Services, The Office of Minority Health, Department of Surgery, Organdonor.gov

 

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Why should African Americans Donate Blood?

Monday, February 13th, 2012
  • By donating blood through Unyts, you will be helping your family, friends and neighbors right here in Western New York.
  • Donated blood is the only source for those who need it. Despite amazing discoveries and breakthroughs in medical research, there is no substitute for the contents and functions human blood provides.
  • Odds are 1 in 3 that you will need blood during your lifetime but only 1 in 33 that you are a regular blood donor.
  • Increasing African-American donations is vital because blood types O and B, the blood types of about 70 percent of African-Americans, are also the blood types most in demand.
  • Genetically-similar blood is preferred for those who need repeated blood transfusions, and for conditions like sickle cell disease (SCD), which primarily affects African-Americans. Blood that closely matches a patient’s is less likely to be rejected by the patient and can mean fewer complications after a transfusion.

 

Justin’s Story (Video)
When Justin was a baby he would scream, cry and hold out his hand whenever he was suffering from pain related to sickle cell disease (SCD). Doctors diagnosed him with the incurable disease when he was just a year old. Justin needs fresh red blood cells from matching donors to replace his sickle shaped cells.

Justin is 14 years old now and despite the disease he can enjoy typical teenage activities such as listening to music and playing football. He keeps his SCD under control with folic acid, vitamins and by staying hydrated, but he always knows when he’s about to experience pain. He says it’s almost unbearable, but he usually feels better while being transfused with blood from donors. 

Justin’s mother and sister also have the sickle cell trait, but so far they have not experienced a crisis. Justin must cope with SCD the rest of his life. With no cure in sight he knows more blood transfusions are likely in his future.

Ciera’s Story (Video)
Like many sixth graders, Ciera Nesmith loves cheerleading, spending time with friends and creating new outfits. But, unlike most girls her age, Ciera spent almost half of her life in the hospital. Ciera suffers from sickle cell anemia which means her red blood cells are sickle or crescent shaped.

As with any blood transfusion the patient and donor have to be a match. In Ciera’s case, it’s easier to find a match for her in the African American community because people from the same ethnic background are more like to have blood that contain similar factors and antigens. Ciera will live with sickle cell anemia the rest of her life. There is no cure for the disease and blood transfusions are a necessity in order for her to stay alive.

 

Terrell’s Story (Video)

Terrell Wilson said his 21st birthday was the best birthday he ever had. He posed for pictures with the Orlando Magic cheerleaders, danced with Bo Outlaw and even talked to Dwight Howard on the phone, but this once in a life time birthday party would be his last.

Doctors diagnosed Terrell with leukemia after he developed a cold and flu-like symptoms he just couldn’t shake. He relied on blood and platelets to get through chemotherapy treatment, but what Terrell really needed was a bone marrow match. He spent weeks on end in the hospital waiting on a match that never came through.

Florida’s Blood Centers Chief Medical Affairs Officer, Dr. Tisha Foster says, “In order to find the right match that the transplant can be successful they’re most likely to find a match within their own ethnicity, so it’s really important that we have a variety of ethnicities on the bone marrow registry in which to choose from for these patients.”

Terrell passed away on Christmas Day 2009, but his legacy lives on as his story continues to inspire people to donate blood and join the National Bone Marrow Registry.

 

Thank you to Florida’s Blood Centers for sharing these stories.
*Sources consulted for the statements made in this document include America’s Blood Centers, Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Transfusion: the Journal of the American Association of Blood Banks, and Transfusion Medicine: Official Journal of the British Blood Transfusion Society.

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