Donation Essentials Blog

August 28, 2024

What is Tissue Matching? Understanding Donor Tissue Compatibility

Tissue matching, also known as histocompatibility testing, represents an important element related to the transplantation of organs and tissues. It helps define compatibility between tissues of the donor and the recipient to decrease chances of transplant rejection. The immune system might think the new tissue is a foreign body and launch an attack on it. […]

March 9, 2017

National Kidney Month: 98 Thousand Americans Wait for Kidney Transplants

March is National Kidney Month. There are currently more than 98 thousand Americans waiting for a lifesaving kidney transplant, nearly two thousand of which are in Colorado and Wyoming. The average time a patient spends on the waiting list is 3-5 years. Dean Bicknese, of Casper, WY, had been on the transplant waiting list for […]

March 3, 2017

8 Truths of Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation

In Colorado and Wyoming, more than 2,500 are waiting for lifesaving transplants, but many misconceptions and myths about organ, eye and tissue donation have prevented people from registering to be donors. Here are eight lesser-known truths about organ donation: One donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and save or heal more […]

March 1, 2017

IN THE NEWS: February’s top organ, eye and tissue donation stories from around the nation

February’s biggest organ, eye and tissue donation news and stories from around the US: AP Exclusive: Twin tragedies give survivor a new face After disfiguring his face over a decade ago, Andy Sandness is now adapting to a new face. Sandness underwent a complex 56-hour surgery that grafted him a new nose, bones, teeth and […]

February 14, 2017

Black History Month and Raising Awareness for the Need for Minority Donors

As the achievements by black Americans and recognition of the important role of African Americans in our country’s history are celebrated during Black History month, more than 34 thousand people from the African-American community around the nation are waiting for a lifesaving transplant. In Colorado and Wyoming alone, there are nearly 250 (245) African Americans […]

February 10, 2017

Celebrate National Donor Day on February 14th

Observed annually on February 14th, National Donor Day aims to raise awareness of the lifesaving benefits of organ, eye and tissue donation while reminding us of the importance of discussing the topic with loved ones. Here in Colorado and Wyoming there are over 2,500 patients on the waiting list to receive a lifesaving organ transplant, […]

January 31, 2017

Donor Alliance 2016 Year in Review

Last year was another remarkable year for organ and tissue donation and transplantation in Colorado and Wyoming with 139 generous organ donors making 424 lifesaving transplants possible. Donor Alliance, the federally designated non-profit organization that facilitates organ and tissue donation in Colorado and most of Wyoming, also worked with the families of a record 1,710 […]

January 31, 2017

Hospital 101: Donation Ambassador Workshop

By Kim Robuck, Hospital Development Manager Last year, 151 critical care nurses, respiratory therapists, and other professionals key to the donation process attended a Donor Alliance ambassador training workshop. Hospital ambassadors are provided with in depth education on all aspects of the organ donation process, from the referral through organ & tissue recovery. Following the […]

January 31, 2017

Coroner’s Corner: Emma Hall, Boulder County Coroner

Q&A with Boulder County Coroner, Emma Hall When did you know you wanted to become coroner? When I was a young child, only four years old, there was a murder that occurred near my home. At the time this incident left me with so many unanswered questions; however, one question always remained with me. Were […]