Guadalupe Regional Medical Center | Health Currents | Spring 2019

In February, Texas Organ Sharing Alliance, a federally-designated organ procurement organization, recognized Chaplain Tom Jones and GRMC for their unwavering commitment to excellence in organ donation. This award was in recognition of a donor in 2018 who was able to donate a heart, lung, liver and other precious tissue. This was the second time a donation of this magnitude had occurred in Seguin. GRMC was also acknowledged for our partnerships with Gencure (a bone marrow transplant organization) and Lone Star Lions Eye Bank for our exceptional conversion rate, meaning potential match to actual match, which is greater than any other same- sized-bed hospital in Texas. Understanding the benefit to both the donor family and to the multiple recipients has created a passion for Chaplain Tom Jones to coordinate and accommodate the donation process at GRMC. This noteworthy award is based on the joint effort of passionate healthcare workers throughout GRMC. Helping families share the gift of life grmedcenter.com  | 5 EVERY 10 MINUTES , a new name is added to the list of Americans needing a lifesaving organ transplant. AT LEAST 20 people die each day due to lack of an available organ. MORE THAN 700,000 transplant surgeries have been performed in the United States over the past 30 years. ONE DECEASED DONOR CAN SAVE EIGHT LIVES and significantly enhance the lives of more than 100 people by donating their heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, pancreas, small intestine, corneas, veins, heart valves, tendons, ligaments and bones. A LIVING DONOR (like Jessica Vincent in our cover story) can give a kidney; blood; bone marrow; or part of a lung, liver or intestine. THERE IS NO COST TO THE DONOR or the donor’s family. NO MAJOR ORGANIZED RELIGIONS in the U.S. object to organ donation—in fact, the majority actively promote this act as one of generosity and compassion. DID YOU KNOW? Organ donation is a possibility for almost everyone—at almost any age or medical condition.