IN THE NEWS: The top organ, eye and tissue donation stories from around the nation in March

March’s biggest organ, eye and tissue donation news and stories from around Colorado, Wyoming and the US:

House votes unanimously to add John Buckner’s name to organ donor awareness fund

The vote approved a surprise third-reading amendment offered by state Rep. Dan Pabon, D-Denver, to House Bill 1027, sponsored in the House by Buckner and state Rep. Jon Becker, R-Fort Morgan, and in the Senate by state Sens. Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo, and Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs. The bill heads to the Senate for consideration. Read more.

Coloradans have blindness cured by cornea transplants

For part of their lives, they couldn’t see, but now the Denver community can get a glimpse of their lives through their eyes. Coloradans whose blindness was cured by cornea transplant are displaying their work in a new exhibit. Watch the story here.

People with autism, intellectual disabilities fight bias in transplants

Paul Corby needs a new heart. But Corby, who lives in Pottsville, Pa., is autistic, suffers from several psychological conditions and takes 19 medications. When he applied to the transplant program at the University of Pennsylvania in 2011, he was rejected because of his “psychiatric issues, autism, the complexity of the process . . . and the unknown and unpredictable effect of steroids on behavior,” according to the denial letter sent to his mother. Read more.

Researchers discover test for earlier detection of transplant rejection

Researchers have discovered a method that appears to provide earlier warning of organ transplant rejection compared to standard methods, and requires only a blood test rather than a more invasive and painful needle biopsy. Read more.