FAQs about organ donation
One deceased organ donor can save up to eight lives, offering hope and a second chance to those in need.
- Two kidneys can free two people from the burden of dialysis.
- One liver can be split, saving two patients on the transplant list.
- Two lungs can help two individuals breathe freely again.
- One heart can restore life to someone in critical need.
- One pancreas can transform the life of a person with diabetes.
Each organ donation is a powerful gift—one that changes lives forever.
Absolutely. Tissue donation has the power to transform and improve lives in ways that many may not realize. One tissue donor—someone who can donate bone, tendons, cartilage, connective tissue, skin, corneas, sclera, and heart valves and vessels—can impact the lives of as many as 75 people.
Donated bone, tendons, and cartilage can help patients recover from traumatic injuries and orthopedic conditions. Connective tissue can be used in reconstructive surgeries, while skin grafts aid burn victims and those with severe wounds. Cornea and sclera donations restore vision, and heart valves and blood vessels can save the lives of individuals with life-threatening cardiac conditions.
By saying "yes" to tissue donation, individuals can leave behind a legacy of healing, offering renewed hope to dozens of people in need.
Although nearly 170 million people are registered to be donors, only three in 1,000 people die in a way that makes organ donation possible. This rarity is why organ donation is a special opportunity—and why registering as a donor on your driver’s license is so important.
Yes, living organ donation is possible. Individuals can donate one kidney or a lobe of their liver while they are still alive. Most living donations happen between family members or close friends, but some choose to donate to a stranger in need, a process known as non-directed or altruistic donation.
Each year, nearly 6,000 living donations take place in the U.S. The Penn Center for Living Donation is the most experienced living donor center in the greater Philadelphia region, providing expert care and support for those who choose to give the gift of life.
Nationally, there are more than 100,000 people awaiting transplantation. Even the largest football stadium in the US could not fit the number of patients on the national transplant waiting list.
Since performing its first transplant in 1966, the Penn Transplant Institute has transformed the lives of more than 13,500 people through the generosity of registered donors, donor families, and living donors. Their selfless gifts have made lifesaving transplants possible, offering hope and a second chance to thousands.
Each April, during Donate Life Month, Penn Medicine honors all organ donors and their families for their incredible generosity and compassion, recognizing the profound impact of their life-saving decisions.