Greater Delaware Valley Society of Transplant Surgeons

MISSION STATEMENT: GIFT OF LIFE DONOR PROGRAM REMAINS DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PATIENTS AWAITING TRANSPLANTATION BY MAXIMIZING THE AVAILABILITY OF DONOR ORGANS AND TISSUES WHILE UPHOLDING THE HIGHEST MEDICAL, LEGAL, ETHICAL, AND FISCAL STANDARDS. TO ACHIEVE ITS MISSION, GIFT OF LIFE WILL:- WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE REGION'S HOSPITALS AND HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS TO ENSURE THAT THE FAMILY OF EVERY POTENTIAL DONOR IS OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION IN A COMPASSIONATE, TIMELY, INFORMATIVE AND CARING MANNER; - PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND MATERIALS TO POSITIVELY PREDISPOSE ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION SO THAT THE DONATION IS VIEWED AS A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY; - SERVE AS A COMMUNITY RESOURCE BY PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES OF DONORS AS WELL AS TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND - SERVE AS A LEADER IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION AND TRANSPLANTATION. IN ADDITION TO ITS ONGOING COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND GRANT PROGRAMS, AND THE PROGRAMMING FOR DONATION PROFESSIONALS THROUGH ITS AFFILIATED GIFT OF LIFE INSTITUTE, GIFT OF LIFE DONOR PROGRAM CONTINUES TO SUPPORT GIFT OF LIFE FAMILY HOUSE, A RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE-TYPE SETTING, WHERE FAMILIES OF PATIENTS UNDERGOING TRANSPLANTS AT THE TRANSPLANT CENTERS IN THE PHILADELPHIA REGION ARE ACCOMMODATED NEAR THE SITE OF THE SURGERY AND FOR FOLLOW-UP VISITS. IN 2019, FAMILY HOUSE PROVIDED 9,401 LODGING NIGHTS OF CARE TO TRANSPLANT PATIENTS AND FAMILIES, SERVED OVER 33,680 MEALS TO FAMILIES THROUGH THE HOME COOK HEROES PROGRAM, ACCUMULATED 15,261 HOURS OF SUPPORT FROM IN-HOUSE VOLUNTEERS, AND PROVIDED 1,164 TRIPS TO AND FROM AREA HOSPITALS TRANSPORTING 4,042 GUESTS, DRIVING 16,136 MILES. VARIOUS RESOURCES FOR TRANSPLANT FAMILIES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE TO ALLOW FOR FULL REGIONAL ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND SERVICES. GIFT OF LIFE FAMILY HOUSE SERVES AS A PHYSICAL REMINDER OF THE CRITICAL NEED FOR LIFE-SAVING ORGANS FOR TRANSPLANT.GIFT OF LIFE'S PRIMARY EXEMPT PURPOSE IS TO COORDINATE ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATIONS, AND WORK WITH 128 AREA ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS AND 15 TRANSPLANT CENTERS TO SUPPORT ALLOCATION OF THOSE GIFTS TO MORE THAN 5,000 PEOPLE IN THE GIFT OF LIFE REGION ON THE TRANSPLANT WAITING LIST. BEYOND ITS CLINICAL WORK, GIFT OF LIFE IS ALSO CHARGED WITH EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY ABOUT DONATION AND TRANSPLANTATION, URGING THOSE WHO HAVE NOT DONE SO TO DESIGNATE THEMSELVES AS ORGAN AND TISSUE DONORS.