One organ donor can save up to eight lives

Judy Weimer, 53, was diagnosed with COPD, emphysema and bronchitis on New Year's Eve in 2005 and received a double-lung transplant in 2009 at Loyola University Health System. "I named my new lungs Lucy and Ethel to welcome them," said the humorous and outgoing Chicagoan. "Lucy acts up once in a while but they are both working fine."

Weimer now volunteers for Gift of Hope, the organ and tissue donor network, educating others and signing up potential donors. "Before my transplant I was in a wheelchair, hooked up to an oxygen tank 24/7. It took four hours for me to bathe myself," she said. "Thanks to my donor, I now am back in life with my usual gusto and zest for life."

Weimer says doctors attributed her disease largely to environmental conditions. "I grew up in the city of Chicago and rode my bike next to exhaust-spewing buses and trucks," she says. "My five brothers worked as mechanics in the family business and I, too, grew up with my head under the hood repairing cars." Another shared family trait was smoking cigarettes. One brother,like Weimer, was diagnosed with COPD and emphysema.

Weimer is sharing her story at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital where she regularly volunteers to encourage donation of organs and tissue.

Interesting Organ and Tissue Donation Facts

Every year, more than 100,000 Americans will need a life-saving organ transplant, yet in 2011 fewer than 22,000 transplants took place in the United States.

Sadly, 18 Americans die every day awaiting transplant.

A new patient is added to the organ waiting list every 11 minutes.

One organ donor can save up to eight lives and improve the lives of up to 50 people by donating tissues.

There is no cost to donate organs and tissues.

April is National Donate Life Month.

Weimer offers herself as living proof why organ donation saves lives and why everyone's help is needed. "I am 6 feet tall, so I needed an extra-long pair of lungs, because you can't just fit any size organ in any person," she said. "My donor was a man who was 6 ft., 6 in. who successfully donated several organs at his passing. I have written several letters of thanks to his family through the Gift of Hope organization because without his lungs, I wouldn't be here today."

Source Loyola University Health System