Stories

In a historic milestone, the U.S. has achieved its 1 million^th organ transplant, more than any other country in the world.

Thanks to a growing public commitment to organ donation, and thanks to the collective skill and dedication of thousands of organ donation and transplant professionals, the nation continues its record-setting trend of increases each year in transplantation:

• In 2021, for the first time, more than 40,000 transplants took place, a total likely to be repeated if not surpassed in 2022.

• In each of the past 11 years, new annual records have been set in the number of deceased donors nationwide.

• Half of all the transplants ever performed in the U.S. have taken place in just the past 15 years.

• More than 400,000 people are alive today with a functioning transplant.

The 1 million milestone demonstrates a powerful trend of system-wide increases, a success made possible by the ongoing expansion of more equitable organ allocation policies, an increasing focus on non-traditional donors, collaborative efforts to increase donation, the continuous evolution of organ preservation techniques and other scientific breakthroughs.

But this is only the beginning.

Accelerating the path to the next 1 million

Living It Forward, a national initiative led by UNOS in partnership with the nation’s organ donation and transplant community, calls to further accelerate the pace of lifesaving transplantation while commemorating so many lives saved, recognizing those still waiting, and remembering those we have lost.

Visit Stories of Hope to read and share stories about some of the people behind the 1 million and see how the gift of life has allowed them to begin living it forward.

Register now to live it forward: Become an organ donor

UNOS encourages everyone to become part of our community by registering as an organ donor. One person can save up to eight lives through organ donation and change the lives of as many as 75 through tissue donation. Because only two percent of people die in a way that makes organ donation possible, the need is great. More than 100,000 people remain on the transplant waitlist. Please register today at RegisterMe.org

In 2021, 41,354 organ transplants were performed in the United States, an increase of 5.9 percent over 2020 and the first time the annual total exceeded 40,000, according to preliminary data from United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), which serves as the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network under federal contract.

The three organ types most commonly transplanted all set annual volume records. There were totals of 24,669 kidney transplants, 9,236 liver transplants and 3,817 heart transplants. Liver transplant totals have set annual records for the past nine years, and heart transplants have set a new record each of the past 10 years.

“We are gratified that transplantation continues to increase substantially and meet the needs of many more people with organ failure, despite ongoing challenges to healthcare relating to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Matthew Cooper, M.D., FACS, president of the UNOS Board of Directors. “This speaks to the dedication and collaboration of donor hospitals, organ procurement organizations and transplant hospitals striving to ensure every opportunity to give the Gift of Life is pursued and celebrated.

“As always, we are indebted to the many thousands of people who make these transplants possible through the selfless gift of organ donation. And we are reminded daily of our need to help the tens of thousands of men, women and children continuing to await a lifesaving transplant.”

A total of 13,861 people became deceased organ donors nationwide in 2021, representing the eleventh consecutive record year for deceased donation and an increase of 10.1 percent over 2020. In May 2021, the weekly total of deceased donors exceeded 300 for the first time; on two subsequent weeks in June, the threshold of 300 donors also was surpassed.

Increases in donation occurred in many areas throughout the nation. Of 57 organ procurement organizations (OPOs), 49 experienced an increase in donation over their 2020 total. Forty-five OPOs set all-time records for donors recovered in a single year.

Donors representing less traditional medical criteria continue to fuel the overall increase. Donation from individuals who died of cardiorespiratory failure (DCD donors), as opposed to brain death, continued a substantial increase. The 4,187 DCD donors increased by 29.9 percent over the total in 2020. Also, for the third straight year, the most common age range of deceased donors was 50 to 64. The 4,270 donors in this category increased by 14.6 percent over 2020.

Living donor transplants, which decreased significantly in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, increased in 2021, but still at lower totals than prior years. Some transplant programs have continued to curtail living donor transplant procedures temporarily in areas particularly affected by large outbreaks of the virus. A total of 6,541 living donor transplants were performed in 2021, an increase of 14.2 percent over the 2020 total.

November 5, 2020, United Network for Organ Sharing held a virtual art opening reception. Watch recording below.

“Looking Back” is a photography exhibition featuring Debra O’Hearn’s art documenting her journey from diagnosis to survival. In 2011 photographer and heart recipient Debra shared a 12-piece photography tribute to her donor, 29-year-old Emily Compton. Debra, a former ER nurse, created the series detailing her intense 4-year battle. She received a lifesaving heart transplant on Easter Sunday in April 2007. This November, we shared the exhibit again along with recently created works of art.

The virtual opening included:

• a tour of the art with Debra O’Hearn
• a conversation with heart recipient Debra and her donor’s mother, Martha Compton
• and questions from our virtual audience

Dedicated to increasing awareness of lifesaving organ transplants and organ donation, The Gallery at UNOS regularly features artwork by local artists and those touched by donation and transplantation.