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n the United States, 20,000 lives were saved last year because of organ transplants. For every person who decides to donate their organs and tissue, up to 100 people can be helped, and a single donor can save eight lives. The reality of organ donation is found as close as in the halls of Grand Junction High School. Sophomore Brayden Jueschke was born six weeks early with three holes in the left side of his heart. He received a transplant after a week of being in the system, which rarely happens. “I think we got very lucky,” he said.” “(The donor and I) had exactly the same blood type.” At five months of age, Jueschke underwent a six-hour heart transplant to save his life. During a heart transplant, after the patient is anesthetized, he is put on a Swanz-Ganz catheter, which delivers blood to the lungs, and a breathing tube is inserted. After the first cut is made, a heart and lung machine is started, taking over the heart’s functions and allowing it to be removed. After the new heart is in place and reattached to the arteries, the heart and lung machine is disconnected, and the
Katie Langford heart typically restarts upon stimulation. If not, an electric shock is given to restart it. A heart transplant costs between $90,000 and $290,000, depending on the patient. Transplants involve risk and can include complications and lifelong side effects. For Jueschke, the complications of his transplant followed him long after he left the hospital. Jueschke takes a medicine called Ciclosporin, an immunosuppressive used to stop his body from rejecting the donor heart. Without the medicine, his blood cells would attack the transplant, sending him into cardiac arrest, but the rising prescription prices has Jueschke worried about the financial toll on his parents. A one-month prescription costs around $300. Other than the financial toll, Ciclosporin weakens bones, making the patient prone to fractures. While taking the medication, Jueschke has fractured his left arm, elbow and forehead. There is no way to prevent the breaks except for using caution, because Jueschke must take the medicine for the rest of his life. Every three months, Jueschke receives a heart check up, including an Electrocardiogram (EKG),
Compiled by Eric List
Sources: organdonor.org, yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com
which records the electrical activity of the heart, and an Echocardiogram (Echo), a sonogram of the heart. Jueschke will never be able to play contact sports like football and lacrosse because of his transplant. If he was hit too hard, Jueschke would go into cardiac arrest. Instead, he likes playing table tennis and pool on the weekends, when he is not spending time with family and friends. Jueschke loves reggae music, especially the band Matis Yahu, and works at Bin 707. Besides the 22 scars that pepper his chest and back, it is impossible to notice he had a transplant. Jueschke is also passionate about a topic that many teens think of with apathy or not at all. He is without a doubt going to be an organ donor. “It’s like giving someone life,” he said. ”(It’s like) being a hero.”
Sources: mamashealth.com, nlm.nih.gov, mic.ki.se
Bone marrow produces red and white blood cells and platelets from stem cells found in the marrow. The most common reason for a bone marrow transplant is aplastic anemia, where the marrow does not produce enough blood cells for the body. Price: $30,000-250,000
Bone Marrow
The large intestine absorbs excess water from digested foods and transports it back into the bloodstream. Hirschsprung’s disease, abnormalities in the muscles of the intestine that prevent it from functioning properly, and enterocolitis, inflammation of the large intestine, are two of the common reasons for having colon replaced. Price: $132,000-220,000
Large Intestine
The pancreas contains cells that produce insulin and glucagons which, when introduced into the blood, regulate the levels of glucose in the blood. Diabetes can result in patients having a pancreas transplant as an alternative to regular diabetes treatment. Price: $110,000-140,000
Pancreas
The lungs take inhaled air and transport the oxygen from the air into the bloodstream, and remove carbon dioxide from the bloodstream during exhalation. Lungs may be replaced when one or both lungs cannot exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. Price:: $150,000-290,000
Lungs
Photo illustration by Alyssa Behrens, Garrett Brown, Nic Murdock
The skin protects the body from the environment and infection and prevents the body from losing excessive amounts of water. Patients most commonly receive skin grafts to treat large wounded, burned, or infected areas of skin. Price: $2,000-18,000
Skin
The kidneys process blood to sift out waste products and extra water that become urine, helping to balance fluids in the body. Kidneys may need to be replaced because of kidney failure due to a loss of bodily fluids or kidney diseases. Price: $15,000-145,000
Kidneys
The liver produces substances that break down fats, converts glucose into glycogen, filters harmful substances from the blood, stores vitamins and maintains a proper level of glucose in the blood, among other functions. Liver failure results mainly from Hepatitis, too much consumption of alcohol, or malnutrition. Price: $25,000-290,000
Liver
The heart supplies the body with oxygenated blood and transports deoxygenated blood to the lungs. Transplants may be needed due to heart failure or severe disease. Price: $90,000-290,000
Heart
The cornea is the clear front part of the eye covering the iris and the pupil. It focuses light onto the retina. A cornea can be damaged from injuries or infections, hereditary diseases, or other eye conditions. Price: $7500-11,000
Cornea
INSIGHT
Photo illustration by Lesley Wharton