Organ Procurement~

Late last week we did an organ procurement on a young patient. I was touched by this pt's mother in a way that I've yet to experience. Typically organ procurement patients are pronounced brain dead by two physicians, however they are ventilated (breathing tube) and their heart continues to beat. We bring the patients down to our operating room where they then pass away. While visiting the patient in his room in the pediatric ICU I first approached his mom (who was sitting and crying) and I got onto my knees in front of her and held her hands. She looked up at me and I introduced myself, I told her how very sorry I was for her loss, and that I promised to take great care of him in the operating room. That sparked something inside of her and she profusely thanked me and held my hands tight. She expressed such desire to have her sons hospital name band as she has his name band from his birth and wanted his last name band. I explained to her that I couldn't giver her his name band as every pt has to have their band on. She asked if she could have it after surgery and I explained that he would still need his name band then. It dawned on me to have a new name band made for him, and I cut his old band off and gave it to her. She cried when I gave it to her and she explained how greatly appreciative she was for that. It felt amazing to put a smile on her face and a warm spot into her heart.

There are times that not having a bond with the pt or their family makes it easier to cope with the pt's death. However this bond that I made with the mother helped to put me at ease.

I received this e-mail from the donor network coordinator yesterday. I'm going to copy parts of it as I don't want to break any HIPPA laws.


This young man had expressed his wish to be an organ donor by registering through the motor vehicle department. His family was supportive of his decision to give the gift of life to others. The staff of UAMC and Donor Network worked together to fulfill his wish.
As you may know Donor Network of Arizona has a moment of silence at the beginning of each organ donor OR. As part of this, prior to the OR we explain to the family about this moment of silence and offer them the opportunity to compose something for us to say to the assembled staff during that time. The family spent considerable time sharing with the ICU and Donor Network Staff about their loved one. They chose to observe silence in honor of his life.

This generous young man’s gift has saved three lives and touched the lives of countless others.

Grateful Recipients:
The gift of his liver was given to a 63-year-old gentleman from our own Southwest region.
His left kidney gave new life to a 62-year-old man, also from our own region.
Mr. ___'s heart was gifted to a 64-year-old gentleman from the pacific region.

He also gave the gift of tissue donation. He gave bone that may help over 50 people in need of surgeries, veins that will allow blood to flow again in those whose vasculature is compromised, and gave skin which may help an individual in need of reconstructive surgery or in healing from a severe burn. Lastly, he gave the gift of sight to two individuals through cornea donation.
Thank you for helping to fulfill this patient's wish to help others by giving the gift of life and helping to rewrite this chapter of his family’s life.



I urge you to consider becoming an organ donor if it's something that you believe in. This has been approximately my  9th or 10th organ procurement in my short time of becoming an operating room nurse. As much work as the cases are, I always feel as though I've helped others with a chance at life.