Organ Matching & Transplant Waiting List Frequently Asked Questions

What if I am on the Transplant Waiting List?

If you are a candidate for transplant, your name will be added to the national waiting list. The national list is maintained by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). UNOS is responsible for keeping the national list up to date and for collecting information about organ donors and transplant recipients.

How is an Organ Matched with a Transplant Candidate? 

Gift of Hope (GOH) is the organ procurement organization responsible for our local area. When an organ becomes available, GOH will check a list of suitable recipients in the area whose blood type is compatible with the donor.

When a matching organ becomes available, the organ is generally offered to the transplant candidate who has waited the longest and is in the most need at the time. If that patient cannot be transplanted at that time, the next patient on the list will be offered the organ.

You will not lose your spot on the waiting list if you have an illness at the time an organ becomes available.

It is possible to be offered an organ at any point after you are placed on the list, even though waiting time is a major factor in the list ranking.

Donated organs are usually from deceased donors who have suffered a brain injury or stroke, but their organs are still working with the help of life-support equipment and medications.

Support Groups

You should also consider coming to our quarterly support groups for transplant patients. These meetings are an opportunity to meet other transplant patients who know exactly what you’re going through. Our transplant social worker can provide you with more information on these meetings.