Texas Organ Sharing Alliance serves more than seven million people in 56 Central and South Texas counties. Starting with the four physicians who founded TOSA in 1975, the mission remains true more than 40 years later: "Saving lives through the power of organ donation."
NEW CEO NAMED AT TEXAS ORGAN SHARING ALLIANCE
Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA) ushered in 2017 with a number of changes, including its leader following the retirement of Patrick J. Giordano, who served as the organ procurement organization’s (OPO) Chief Executive Officer for almost 20 years. TOSA’s Board of Directors announced the selection of Joseph Nespral, MD, CPTC, to the organization’s staff at the start of the year. Nespral, who most recently served as TOSA’s interim CEO, is one of TOSA’s longest-tenured employees, hired in 1997. He is the longest-serving Clinical Director/Chief Operating Officer for an OPO in Texas. Before coming to TOSA, Nespral worked at OPOs across the country, including New York Organ Donor Network, LifeLink of Georgia and LifeLink of Puerto Rico. He has a degree in medicine from Central East University in the Dominican Republic and is a Board-Certified Procurement Transplant Coordinator. “I’ve had the privilege of working with our exceptional staff at TOSA, our generous donor families who provide a second chance to others and our transplant centers that work diligently to save their patients” said Nespral. “Now I look forward to leading our TOSA family as we continue to persevere in our mission to save more lives.”
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Almost 20 years since its last update, Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA), the agency providing organ donation and recovery services for families in Central and South Texas, unveiled a modern look in its new corporate logo, website and domain. TOSA CEO Joseph Nespral said the move to update the company’s image will help the non-profit organization as it strives to inspire individuals to save lives and sign up as organ donors. “This new logo reflects who we are as a company today,” Nespral said. “We’re excited to have this innovative branding as we move forward in a new phase of our organization.” The TOSA logo has significant meaning and relates directly to the life-saving work we're committed to. It prominently features a heart to represent warmth, life and generosity . It evokes characteristics of TOSA's staff and recognizes that organ donation saves lives. The heart blends into a partial infinity symbol, representing the continuation of life via organ donation. The infinity symbol alone can be read as the number eight, which are the number of lives a single donor can save. The blue-to-red gradation represents how the loss of life brings about new life when organs are donated. The branding was developed by Red-
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door Creative of San Antonio, Texas. The last time TOSA updated its logo was in 1997, when the organization changed its name from South Texas Organ Bank to Texas Organ Sharing Alliance. The website at the new domain, www.TOSA1.org, provides a clean, user-friendly design complete with facts about donation, as well as information to assist donor families and community members interested in joining the Donate Life mission. “As we educate our community on the urgent need for more organ donors, we want to provide the public easy access to our website and lifesaving information,” Nespral said. Headquartered in San Antonio, TOSA has satellite offices in Austin and McAllen. The company and its staff have consistently been recognized as a Top Workplace by San Antonio Express-News. Texans are encouraged to register 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 TOSA1.org.
KEY POINTS ABOUT ORGAN DONATION There is a severe shortage of organ donors in this country.
As of June 2017, nearly 120,000 patients are on the national waiting list in need of an organ transplant.
Register your decision at www.TOSA1.org and please inform your family of your decision to donate.
11,000 of them are Texans
9.5 million Texans have registered their decision to Donate Life.
A NEW NAME IS ADDED TO THE UNITED NETWORK FOR ORGAN SHARING WAITING LIST EVERY 10 MINUTES
TRANSPLANT SUCCESS RATES INCREASE WHEN ORGANS ARE MATCHED BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THE SAME ETHNIC AND RACIAL GROUP. A patient is less likely to reject a kidney if it is donated by an individual who is genetically similar. Therefore, a lack of organs donated by minorities can contribute to death and longer waiting periods for transplants for minorities. • Donation does not disfigure the body or prevent an open casket funeral. • Donated organs are removed in a sterile surgical procedure, similar to open heart surgery, in a hospital operating room by skilled surgeons. • Organ and tissue donation is considered only after all efforts to save the patient’s life have been exhausted and death has been legally declared. • Few people are too old or too young to donate. Currently there are no age limits for donors. At the time of your death, medical professionals will determine whether your organs are transplantable. •
More than half of those awaiting transplant in the US are minorities
The organ allocation system is blind to wealth, celebrity and social status. Donated organs are placed in recipients based on best medical match and most critical need.
More than 7,000 of the patients on the national waiting list died last year (about 20 patients per day) without ever receiving their transplant because there are not enough organs to transplant. Of the 2.3 million people who die in the U.S. every year, less than two percent are eligible to be organ donors. Almost everyone, however, can be a tissue donor.
THERE IS NO MAJOR RELIGION IN THE U.S. THAT IS OPPOSED TO ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION. In fact, many religions endorse organ and tissue donation as an act of charity.
Organs that can be transplanted are the heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver and intestine.
• No costs directly related to organ or tissue donation are passed on to the donor’s family or estate.
TEXAS ORGAN SHARING ALLIANCE www.TOSA1.org • 210.614.7030 • 1.866.685.0277 PAGE 06
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One person can save eight lives!
PUNTOS CLAVE ACERCA DE LA DONACIÓN Existe una severa escasez de órganos en este país. Más del 50% de las personas en espera de un trasplante son minoría en los E.U.A.
Desde junio del 2017 hay cerca de 120,000 pacientes en la lista nacional de espera por un trasplante.
11,000 son Tejanos
Si usted desea registrarse como donante de órganos visite: www.TOSA1.org e informe a sus familiares acerca su decisión, así podrán respetar sus deseos cuando llegue su momento.
Done Vida como los 9.5 millones de Tejanos que han registrado su decisión. CADA 10 MINUTOS UN NUEVO NOMBRE ES AGREGADO A LA LISTA DE PACIENTES EN ESPERA DE UN TRANSPLANTE DE ÓRGANOS DE UNOS.
ES MENOS PROBABLE QUE UN PACIENTE RECHACE UN ÓRGANO SI EL DONANTE ES GENÉTICAMENTE SIMILAR, DE LA MISMA ETNICIDAD Y GRUPO RACIAL.
NINGUNA RELIGIÓN EN E.U.A SE OPONE A LA DONACIÓN DE ÓRGANOS Y TEJIDOS. De hecho, la mayoría de las religiones aprueba la donación de órganos y tejidos como un acto de caridad.
Los órganos trasplantables son el corazón, riñones, páncreas, pulmones, hígado e intestino.
Más de 7,000 pacientes en la lista nacional de espera murieron el año pasado. Alrededor de 20 personas por día mueren por no haber suficientes órganos para trasplantar.
De los 2.3 millones de personas que mueren en los E.U.A cada año, menos del dos por ciento son elegibles para ser donantes de órganos. Sin embargo la mayoría, pueden ser donantes de tejido o córnea.
•
La donación no desfigura el cuerpo o previene mostrar a la persona en un funeral con el ataúd abierto.
•
Los órganos que son donados son removidos quirúrgicamente en un hospital, en un lugar estéril, por cirujanos especializados, similar a una operación del corazón.
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La donación de órganos y tejido es considerada solamente después de que todos los recursos fueron agotados para salvar al paciente y la declaración de muerte fue legalmente certificada.
•
Nunca se es demasiado mayor o demasiado joven para donar. No hay edad límite para convertirse en donante. Al momento de su muerte, médicos profesionales determinarán si sus órganos son trasplantables o no.
•
El sistema para asignar órganos no tiene ninguna preferencia hacia el rico, famoso o estatus social. Los órganos donados son trasplantados a los pacientes gravemente enfermos o tienen mayor compatibilidad.
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No existe costo adicional para las familias donantes de órganos o tejido.
TEXAS ORGAN SHARING ALLIANCE Una persona puede salvar 8 vidas!
www.TOSA1.org • 210.614.7030 • 1.866.685.0277 A SPECIAL SECTION FOR SAN ANTONIO WOMAN
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139 DONORS
501 LIVES SAVED
Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA), the organ procurement organization that provides organ donation and recovery services for families in Central and South Texas, had a record-breaking 501 organs transplanted, 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 in Texas. 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 United Network for Organ Sharing CEO Brian Shephard.
TOSA and its staff have consistently been recognized as a Top Workplace by San Antonio Express-News. Headquartered in San Antonio, TOSA has satellite offices in Austin and McAllen.
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 TOSA1.org.
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For the Garza family of Palmview in the Rio Grande Valley, the urgent need and uncertainty of a life-saving gift was not new. Saul and Alicia Garza already had their youngest son, Caleb, undergo a major surgery to repair his heart. So when their youngest daughter, Shantel, was born with a chronic liver disease called biliary atresia and given only two years to live, they kndw already what type of gift would save their child’s life. Her only chance at survival was a liver transplant. As a newborn, Caleb was given one day to live. Before he underwent surgery to reconstruct his heart with donated tissue, the family decided they would like their precious boy to help others as a donor should he not survive. “From that moment we were organ donors,” Alicia recalls. “Even before Caleb received the tissue donation, we had decided as a family he would be a donor.” As Shantel waited for a lifesaving liver transplant, the Garza family prayed their daughter would be healed, and they
Thanks to her donor family, Shantel has been able to lead a
prayed for their would-be donor family. After 10 months of
normal life. And like all children, she has been granted the
waiting, and three false alarms, Shantel’s family received
opportunity to grow, thrive and discover her passions.
word that there was a liver match for her.
Shantel says she enjoys spending time with her family – she’s the youngest of six – and has recently taken up softball.
“We prayed immediately,” Alicia said. “We were so thankful
But her ultimate passion is singing.
to God for this gift, and we prayed for the donor’s family because they lost their loved one. We were happy and sad at
For years, Shantel has sung at events for Texas Organ Shar-
the same time.”
ing Alliance to show the community and donor families firsthand what a lifesaving gift looks and sounds like. And
FOR SHANTEL, NOW 12 YEARS OLD, THE GIFT SHE
last year as her brother Caleb dealt with heart complications
WAS GIVEN WAS NOT LOST ON HER.
that ultimately led to his unfortunate death, Shantel took
“I always thank my donor family. They cared enough to
the time to write a special song for her donor family.
give me the gift of life from their special loved one,” said Shantel. Shortly after her transplant, the Garza family had
The song recounts her journey as a baby, the worry her fam-
written Shantel’s donor family to offer their gratitude. For
ily endured and the grace from her donor family that has al-
10 years they wrote until Shantel decided to write the letter
lowed her to live.
herself. Seeing the letter prompted the donor family to respond. They wrote they were happy to see she was doing
“You’re a special part of me and you will always be,” she
well and had hoped to meet someday.
wrote. “Thank you, my donor family.” She hopes to one day sing it to them in person. “I want to thank them in person,” she said. “Without them, I wouldn’t be here.”
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REGISTER TODAY AT www.TOSA1.org FIND OUT MORE Texas Organ Sharing Alliance @txorgansharing @txorgansharing
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Texas Organ Sharing Alliance’s Hospital Services (HS) Department works closely with more than 120 hospitals in our service area, which encompasses 56 counties in Central and South Texas. HS staff develops and cultivates professional relationships with hospital staff members as well as administration to educate on the importance of building a culture of donation in their facilities. “We are dedicated to providing quality education to hospital staff so we can ensure every family whose loved one is a potential donor is given the opportunity to save lives,” states Director of Hospital Services Dorothy Starr. “TOSA works consistently with our hospitals to identify any potential donors after all lifesaving efforts are made.” In addition to making donation possible, the Hospital Services team encourages hospital partners to generate a culture of organ donation within their facilities. Some of those ways include honoring donors and their families with memorials and events in their hospitals. Hospitals are also encouraged to participate in a special National Hospital Organ Donation campaign spearheaded by the Health Resources and Services Administration. The campaign challenges hospitals to educate staff and the community about organ, eye and tissue donation. Hospitals earn points for each awareness event and donor registration drive they have. In 2016, 43 hospitals in
Baptist Medical Center CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health Doctor's Hospital at Renaissance Edinburg Regional Medical Center Edinburg Children's Hospital McAllen Medical Center Methodist Children's Hospital Methodist Hospital Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital Methodist Stone Oak Hospital Metroplex Adventist Hospital Mission Trail Baptist Hospital North Central Baptist Hospital Northeast Baptist Hospital Renaissance Transplant Institute San Antonio Military Medical Center Seton Medical Center Austin Seton Medical Center Williamson Shannon Medical Center South Texas Veterans Health Care System Audie Murphy Veterans Hospital St. David's North Austin Medical Center St. Luke's Baptist Hospital The Children's Hospital of San Antonio University Health System - University Hospital University Medical Center Brackenridge Valley Baptist Health System - Harlingen Valley Baptist Medical Center - Brownsville Valley Regional Medical Center
TOSA’s service area participated. Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas McAllen Heart Hospital Mission Regional Medical Center St. David's Medical Center St. David's South Austin Medical Center
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Baylor Scott and White Hillcrest Baylor Scott and White Medical Center - Lakeway Cedar Park Regional Medical Center Harlingen Medical Center Knapp Medical Center Providence Health Center Rio Grande Regional Hospital Starr County Memorial Hospital
Methodist Texsan Hospital Metropolitan Methodist Hospital Northeast Methodist Hospital
TOSA HONORS OUR 2016 GIFT OF LIFE DONORS Adam L. Adriana S. Ahinara G. Alida R. Alvaro G. Amos P. Andrew G. Angelica O. Atalia R. Beatriz V. Bonnie P. Bret J. Brittany W. Caden D. Candace A. Carlos L.P. Carlos R. Caroline M. Casey R. Charlsea C. Christian G. Christian W. Christine M. Colin C. Dakota A. Danny H. David H. David S.
CONTACT TOSA:
Denise V. Dennet W. Dennis H. Derrick M. Devon N. Doretta L. Drake E. Duane W. Dustin P. Eduardo H. Emmanuel G. Evan T. Fabian S. Felix S. Fernando A.C. Francisco C. Frank R. Frankie M. Frenkel T. Heather G. Hugo D. Ian L. Imunique D. Iris G. Iris R. Irvin M. Isamari C. Jacklyne H.
Jacob R.E. Jason B. Jason H. Jenny R. Jerry S. Jessica S. Joel A. John K. Jonathan D. Jordan I. Jose A. Jose A. Jose C. Jose E. Jose M.E. Juan C. Julie C. Kacy H. Kelly A. Kelsey W. Kenneth H. K'lanie R. Lance P. Landon P. Lane H. Latoya J. Lisa C. Lori M.
Lori S. Luis M. Manuela P. Marco F. Maria C. Maria P. Marie L. Martha C. Martin M. Mary V. Matthew J. Michael S. Michelle G. Michelle S. Monique M. Myrliannette C. Nadia P. Nathan A. Nathan S. Nelda L. Omar D. Orquidia C. Patricia W. Patrick P. Paul A. Peter D. Prudencio P. Rachel M.
Randall H. Raul G. Rene T. Reyna G. Rhonda S. Richard M. Ricky T. Rory S. Sandra H. Savannah G. Savitramma S. Shannon C. Silvia H. Stacie V. Stephanie S. Stephen S. Steven B. Tashan C. Timothy K. Toni V. Travis Z. Traviz A. Trevor M. Vicky B. Victoria P. Yolanda G. Zane D.
• for more information about organ donation or the Donate Life Texas registry • to request a speaker at your church, workplace, school or civic club • to become a volunteer and help raise awareness of organ donation
NORTHERN REGION 7000 North Mopac, Suite 160 Austin, Texas 78731 (512) 459.4848 O (512) 459.7794 F
CENTRAL REGION (HEADQUARTERS) 8122 Datapoint Drive, Suite 200 San Antonio, Texas 78229 (210) 614-7030 O (210) 614-2129 F
www.TOSA1.org
SOUTHERN REGION 1400 N. McColl Road, Suite 104A McAllen, Texas 78501 (956) 630-0884 O (956) 687-7185 F