Becoming a Tissue Donor
Each year, thousands of Americans suffer needlessly while awaiting a tissue transplant. The shortage of donated tissues is often the only factor limiting a surgeon’s ability to treat patients in need of a tissue transplant. Fortunately, you have the opportunity to help. Please take a moment to think about one of the most important decisions that you can make. Be part of a new beginning. Be a Tissue Donor.
To give the "gift of life" you must inform your next of kin and other members of your family as to your wishes. Let them know your feelings toward tissue donation and make them aware of your decision to be a tissue donor. Everyone is a potential tissue donor at his or her time of death, and the family will be asked to make a decision about donation at this time. Sharing your decision with your family is as important as making the decision itself. Doing this will prevent uncertainty, assure the carrying out of your wishes and provide comfort to your loved ones during this difficult time.
Tissue donation involves a surgical procedure to remove the donated tissues. It does not disfigure the body, nor will it affect funeral arrangements, allowing for an open casket viewing if so desired. Additionally, the donation process does not cost anything to the donor’s family. It is a priority of our organization to make these donated tissues available to local patients in need of a tissue transplant.
A tissue recovery team will procure the donated tissues in a sterile environment, much like that of any other surgical procedure. Upon completion, prosthetics will be utilized to reconstruct the body prior to release to the funeral home. A unique feature of the services offered by STBTC is that our musculoskeletal tissues are recovered, processed, stored and distributed from our facility in San Antonio, Texas.
As a full-service tissue bank, we are able to better serve the needs of our community. South Texas Blood & Tissue is certified by the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB), American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), International Organization for Standardization (ISO 9002) and regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In 2005, Texas joined 40 other states in the country by creating its own state donor registry. The Glenda Dawson Donate Life Texas Registry is the official state organ, tissue and eye donor registry.
Registering to become an organ, tissue and eye donor helps ensure your wishes will be carried out after you die.
Sign up today to become an organ, tissue and eye donor. Your generosity can save up to eight lives through organ donation and enhance another 50 through tissue donation.