What Can Be Transplanted
One donor can save or improve the lives of as many as 50 people by donating eyes, organs and tissues. The diagram below shows what can be donated. For more information, visit the Mid-America Transplant Services web site which features detailed descriptions on organ function and their transplant use.

A glossary of transplant terms is available on the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) web site for students who may need more information.

Various Gifts of Donation 1. Eyes/Corneas 2. Lungs 3. Heart 4. Liver 5. Kidneys 6. Pancreas 7. Fascia 8. Skin 9. Cartilage/Tendons 10. Bone 11. Bone Marrow 12. Small Intestine

Organ Recovery and Preservation
Vital organs can be recovered and transported hundreds of miles to a patient waiting in a transplant center. The maximum time frame from the time the organ is recovered to when it must be transplanted is listed here. Note that many transplant surgeons prefer a shorter period or eschemic time.