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27 Sep

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News Press Release

Governor Newsom Signs AB 1374 to Improve DMV Organ Registration Language, Increasing Donors

New Law Strengthens California Department of Motor Vehicles and Donate Life California Partnership

SACRAMENTO, CA, September 22, 2021 – AB 1374 was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. Sponsored by Assemblymember Kevin Mullin (D-22), AB 1374 is a critical step in the effort to increase the number of registered organ donors in California. The new law creates a pathway to amend the language of the DMV donor registration, in the hopes of encouraging more Californians to say “yes” to organ, eye and tissue donation.
California has the longest transplant waiting list in the country, with more than 20,000 patients currently in need of a lifesaving organ. The partnership between the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and Donate Life California is key to saving lives. Since 2005, the DMV has accounted for more than 95% of the 17.5 million registrations to the Donate Life California organ and tissue registry. Leaders from both organizations hailed the new law as an important turning point.
“We have long enjoyed our partnership with Donate Life California. Our joint efforts have saved many lives,” said Kathleen Webb, DMV Chief Deputy Director. “We look forward to more success registering organ, eye and tissue donors with this new agreement in place.”
“Since the creation of the Donate Life California registry, Californians have taken even greater strides to help save the lives of thousands,” stated Jim Martin, Chief Executive Officer of Donate Life California. “Every Californian has the power to make a difference when they sign up to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor, and we hope our simplified partnership with the DMV helps Californians to understand the importance of that decision.”
“OPOs are proud of their work with Donate Life California and the DMV to pass AB 1374 and increase organ donation,” said Tom Mone, Chair of Donate Life California’s Board of Directors and CEO of OneLegacy, Southern California’s OPO or Organ Procurement Organization. “Our work as OPOs starts with collaboration with all 334 California hospitals who refer potential donors, then by supporting families and donors who choose to leave a life-saving legacy, medically assessing and treating every donor to maximize the number of lives saved and making sure that life-saving organs get to the patients with the greatest need. This cannot happen without advocating for these patients by supporting legislation like AB 1374 and educating communities on the importance of registration, as well as investing in science that improves transplantation, all to fulfill our commitment to advance solutions that save more lives.”
Facts about donation
• In 2020, organ and tissue donors in California saved more than 4,500 lives and improved the quality of life for hundreds of thousands more.
• 18 people across the country die each day awaiting lifesaving organ transplants.
• Approximately 20,000 people in California need a lifesaving organ transplant — approximately 19% of the national transplant waiting list.
About Donate Life California:
Donate Life California is the nonprofit, state-authorized organ, eye and tissue donor registry. As a public service, the registry assures that all personal information is kept confidential and stored in a secure database, accessible only to authorized organ and tissue recovery personnel at the time of an actual donation opportunity. The registry is administered by Donate Life California and California’s four nonprofit, federally designated organ recovery organizations: Donor Network West, Lifesharing, OneLegacy and Sierra Donor Services. For more information about Donate Life California, please visit www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org or in Spanish at www.doneVIDAcalifornia.org.
Please visit Donate Life California’s Stories of Hope web page to read inspiring stories about organ and tissue donors and recipients from around the state.

Contact:
Lacey Wood
Donate Life California
(530) 308-7046 (cell) | (916) 678-6006 (office)
lacey@donateLIFEcalifornia.org

30 Apr

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News

Transplant Nurses Week Spotlight: Corinne Reyes Mercado, RN

Corinne Reyes Mercado, a mother of three who could best be described by those who know her best as a caring, funny, and creative soul with a love of crafting. Like many of us she chooses to unwind after a long day at work watching something lighthearted that makes you laugh like The Office or Below Deck. She also enjoys taking some time to be with nature, going on long walks and taking in the beauty of the trees or rivers that are around her.
However, Corinne doesn’t have a regular nine to five career, in fact for the past twenty years she hasn’t had what any of us would call a regular job. Corinne is a Transplant Nurse working with children and adolescents at Stanford Children’s Health – Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. Before becoming a transplant nurse Corinne was considering taking time away from nursing and spending more time to be with her family. But after hearing about Stanford Children’s new transplant program, her plans changed. “Something ignited in me, another surge of inspiration. I knew I had to be a part of it,” says Reyes Mercado. “It was scary but learning all this new knowledge and skills to best help our patients really just renewed my core of nursing”.
Any healthcare worker will tell you that their job has its rewarding moments, but for Corinne it’s getting to spend time connecting with the families she works with and seeing her patients get healthier. Hearing the news about her patient receiving a transplant and assisting with their recovery afterwards and then seeing them go home is the most rewarding feeling. What most people don’t think about is the other side to working in transplant, “It’s a double-edged sword, knowing that the higher up the patient gets on the waiting list, also means their health has declined,” says Reyes Mercado. “It’s hard sometimes knowing that someone else had to pass for this organ to be given to our patient. For each of my patients, I take a moment of silence before going into their room and tell myself that my intention is to help and heal. I also thank the person who donated this organ to help another live on.”
When asking Corinne what she wants the public to know about her hospitals transplant program and how organ donation affects it, she responded with “It’s a miracle really! Organ donation helps give patients a second chance at life and at healing. I wish more people would sign up to be donors. Seeing Donate Life’s informative videos just shows how amazing that one person could save so many lives.” When someone is considering registering as an organ donation, she implores people to do their research and look at the resources available to them. “Talk to the experts,” says Reyes Mercado, as a Pre-Pandemic volunteer at Donate Life’s Run Corinne is all too familiar with the organizations support and education regarding the organ donation community. She’s even seen some of her former patients while volunteering!
Before ending our interview, Corinne wished to leave us with this advice:
“I love my job, but I’m afraid for the future of nursing. A nursing shortage is being feared in the next decade, and I want people to know of the wonderful moments and achievements nursing can have. Helping people at their most vulnerable, encompasses my job and its really rewarding to help others at those moments. I hope this pandemic doesn’t deter people away from the profession. Without nurses, hospital structures would crumble without the bedside manner and support they offer.”

02 Sep

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News Uncategorized

Organ Transplant and Social Security Benefits

Article Written by: Cendy Moliere, Outreach Specialist, Disability Benefits Center

How to Qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits After an Organ Transplant

Organ transplants are very common, but there are still thousands of people that spend more than a year waiting for a donated organ that is the right match for them. During that time, and after a transplant surgery, it can be impossible for someone to work. People who need transplants and people who have had them can file a claim for Social Security disability benefits to help them cover their living and medical expenses while they wait for a donor organ or recover from a transplant surgery.

Social Security Benefits After an Organ Transplant

Anyone that has gone through an organ transplant surgery will automatically qualify for Social Security disability benefits for 12 months from the date of surgery. All you need to do is file a claim and submit proof that you had the surgery. This is the case for all organ transplants including:

  • Bone marrow transplant
  • Heart transplant
  • Kidney transplant
  • Liver transplant
  • Stem cell transplant

After 12 months you can apply to have your benefits extended. The Social Security Administration will look at your medical records and the recovery progress that you’ve made and decide whether or not you need another year of benefits. You can reapply each year if you need benefits past the two-year mark.

Social Security Disability Benefits While Waiting for A Transplant

The time frame for how long someone could wait for an organ varies depending on each individuals situation. It is not uncommon to wait months or years. Often those waiting are unable to work because of their medical condition. People who are waiting for a transplant can apply for Social Security disability benefits and usually all they need to do is submit proof that they are on the transplant list to be approved for those benefits. A few of the conditions that will qualify someone to receive benefits while they are on the transplant list are:

  • Cystic Fibrosis
  • COPD
  • Heart failure
  • Kidney disease
  • Leukemia
  • Liver disease
  • Lung cancer
  • Lymphoma

If you’re not sure if you qualify you can talk to your doctor to see what medical documentation you should submit with your claim.

Filing A Claim for Social Security Disability Benefits

If you’re not able to get out or you’re just more comfortable filing online, you can fill out and submit a claim for Social Security disability benefits online through the Social Security Administration’s website. But, if you need help filling out the application or if you have questions that you need answered before you can fill out the claim forms you can make an appointment at your local Social Security Administration office. Most cities and towns have a branch office of the SSA where you can get help if you need it. Bring your questions and all of your medical documentation with you to the appointment. One of the staff members at the office will sit down with you and answer your questions and help you fill out and submit your claim.

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