Gift of Life Persuasive Essay
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The Gift of Life
Organ transplants are beneficial to thousands of patients every year. The transplantation of organs first became successful in the early 1950s with the transplantation of a kidney. Doctors soon discovered that organ transplants dramatically improved recovery rates from years to months. Organs such as kidneys, lungs, hearts, and livers can be transplanted. The kidney transplant is the most popular with over 13,000 performed every year (Richardson 91). Today, most organ transplants are relatively safe, routine procedures, but the demand for transplants has far exceeded the supply of donated organs.
Heart disease, lung disease, kidney failure, and cirrhosis of the liver are all conditions that are treated by a transplant. Considering the importance of the heart and lungs, transplants for these organs are always a last resort. A patient can often find a close friend or family member to donate a kidney or liver. The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) maintains records of transplant patients awaiting organs and determines who will receive the donated organs (Fentiman 73)...