Organ donation and overcoming cultural hesitancy

VALERIE PATTERSON

Valerie Patterson of Charlotte owes her life to a 2023 heart transplant. "If anyone is looking to become an organ donor, it is the easiest way to make a difference in someone's life," she said.

Organ donation can be the difference between life and death.

April is National Donate Life Month, and organ donation is of the utmost importance. More than 100,000 people are on transplant waiting lists nationwide.

“I've had several people that I've known that have been direct recipients and I can see how it has a trickle-down effect that has directly affected their lives,” said Matthew Kinney, hospital donation liaison at LifeShare Carolinas. “It's real gratifying and to see that, that’s what’s kind of driven me over the past 20 some odd years with LifeShare is to know that there is some light at the end of the tunnel and that someone’s life could be changed in a positive form or fashion by way of someone saying yes to donation.”

For 18 years Kinney was LifeShare’s family support coordinator and knows the challenges families face when a loved one dies. He’s seen both sides of the donation process with grieving families and the people in need of transplants. 

“I want [families] to feel good on both sides of it,” he said. “Whether it’s a family that’s grieving at the time, that’s giving, and the family that standing in need. And then when you can make that type of combustion and bring those two things together, that’s a beautiful thing.”

Understanding the process

The donation process for large vital organs such as hearts starts when someone dies. If the person is a donor, it will be indicated on their driver’s license. If not, the family decides. 

The United Network for Organ Sharing keeps track of patients awaiting a transplant. It also matches organs with candidates based on factors most related to body composition to ensure success. 
Once a person is registered for a transplant, they are added to the list and whenever a match is found they’re called based on where they are on the list. The order of candidates can change based on factors such as severity of need. 

In the Black community, there is a disproportionate need for organ donation, which is exacerbated by cultural hesitancy and a history of abuse by the U.S. medical community. According to the Office of Minority Health, about 27% of those on the transplant waiting list are Black, while only 13% of registered donors are. McKinney said the process assures organ allocation and harvesting are done properly.

“Some of us are still stuck on that same principle and concept of what was instilled in them at a younger age,” McKinney said, “as opposed to embracing the advancements that have been made from a medical standpoint, and it’s hard to get them off that rock. Sometimes education comes at a time in a crisis situation, so now we’re trying to educate you about the importance, the great need of it, and how it could be the greatest gift that you could give to someone else.”

From a personal perspective

Valerie Patterson, a heart recipient from Charlotte, said organ donation changed her life. 

“I'm here because of either the generosity of someone who had the vision to say, ‘Yes, I will be an organ donor,’ or family who made a very hard decision to say, ‘Yes, we would allow someone to in the event our loved one has passed, we are more than happy to allow his or her organs to be used to help save someone's life,’ she said.”

Patterson, 57, was diagnosed during a colonoscopy with an issue that indicated she would need a new heart.

“When I came up from under the procedure, my gastroenterologist and his anesthesiologist were sitting right beside my bed, and he goes, ‘Miss Patterson, you have an irregular heartbeat,’” she recalled. “You need to go see a cardiologist.”

Patterson said her heart failure was rapid. After the 2022 diagnosis, she had a pacemaker for about a year, but her health continued to decline. After finding out she needed a transplant, it took just 10 days to get a match in July 2023. 

“My heart failure was pretty drastic, and I was very fortunate,” Patterson said. “So, within 10 days of getting admitted to Sanger Heart Institute, I had a new heart. … I am very fortunate.”

Because one person made the decision to donate, Patterson has a second chance at life, and she now advocates fiercely for it.

“If anyone is looking to become an organ donor, it is the easiest way to make a difference in someone’s life,” she said. “Actually, it is the easiest way to make a difference in many people’s lives. People’s organs can be used to save different people. Just from one person alone, I got the heart and I am hoping this person was in good health and that their other organs went to other people to help save their lives as well.”

This article is updated to correct Matthew Kinney's last name.

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