Record 501 Lives Saved Thanks to Central and South Texas Organ Donors

SAN ANTONIO, TX — January 12, 2017
Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA), the organ procurement organization that provides organ donation and recovery services for families in Central and South Texas, announced a record-breaking 501 organs were transplanted in 2016 thanks to the actions of heroic registered organ donors and families who supported the cause of organ donation.

A new record of 139 individuals provided 501 organs to patients, giving hope to the nearly 11,000 people who continue to wait for a lifesaving organ transplant in Texas. "None of this is possible without the donors and their families," said TOSA CEO Joseph Nespral. "We are encouraged daily by their strength, generosity and support of our mission to save lives through organ donation."

TOSA's data shows that 32 percent of these donors made the decision to save lives by signing up with Donate Life Texas, the state's official registry for organ, eye and tissue donors.

Additionally, nearly 78 percent of families approached by TOSA consented to organ donation.

Across the nation, organs transplanted also set a record-high; more than 33,600 organs were transplanted in the U.S. in 2016, up nearly 20 percent since 2012. "The increase in organ transplants is partly a realization of an ongoing commitment to improvement at organ procurement organizations, transplant hospitals and UNOS," said Brian Shephard, Chief Executive Officer at the United Network for Organ Sharing.

Headquartered in San Antonio, TOSA has satellite offices in Austin and McAllen. The organization and its staff have consistently been recognized as a Top Workplace by San Antonio Express-News.

Texans are encouraged to register to be organ, eye and tissue donors online at DonateLifeTexas.org or at Texas Department of Public Safety or the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. For information on organ donation and community initiatives, contact TOSA at 866-685-0277 or visit txorgansharing.org.


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Texas Organ Sharing Alliance is one of 58 federally designated Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) in the United States. Founded in 1975 as a not-for-profit corporation, TOSA covers 56 counties in Central and South Texas. TOSA is committed to providing organ donation and recovery services to families wishing to donate, and to those waiting for a life-saving organ transplant.