Organ and tissue donation - your questions answered
1What is organ donation?
Organ donation is the gift of an organ to help someone who needs a transplant.
The generosity of donors and their families enables over 3,000 people in the UK every year to take on a new lease of life.
2When were the first organ transplants?
The first successful kidney transplant was in 1954. The first heart transplant took place in 1967.
3What organs can be transplanted?
Kidneys, heart, liver, lungs, pancreas and the small bowel can all be transplanted.
Techniques are improving all the time and we may soon be able to transplant other parts of the body to help even more people.
The Gwilliam Family's Story
Electrician Martyn Gwilliam had always joked that, when he died, he wanted to donate his corneas so he could "keep an eye on the talent." Following his death in a motorcycle crash, his wishes were carried out - but both the recipients were young women!
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