I’m an organ donor; at least, I’ve signed up to be one if the, “opportunity” arises. As many, generous and well-intending people have done either at the time of their death or, in some cases, while still living, I am one of approximately 165 million people in the United States today who is willing to donate an organ to help another person should I no longer need it. What are those organs that I or others could donate someday? Medical science generally agrees upon 78 or 79 different organs in thehuman body—not all donatable. Organs are defined as distinct collections of different tissues formed into a unit for performing a function like a heart, kidney, lung, or pancreas. Damage to any of our organs affects our overall health and lifespan, thusthe need for organ donation in certain serious medical cases. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that someone is added to the organ transplant waiting list every ten minutes, so there is and ever-present need for forward-thinking,generous, and willing organ donors.
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