Gabriel, Europe’s second organ donor, tells his story, yes, from his family

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By 2023, Italy’s organ donation rate will rise to second place among major European countries: achievement rate 28.2 donors per million inhabitants,later Spain (world leader, 48.9) but leading France (26,3), U.K. (21,3) Germania (11,4). The figures just published by the National Transplantation Centre tell of the generosity of Italians and of a well-functioning transplant network, as does the story of Gabriele, a 38-year-old traffic accident victim. With the consent of his family, donations of hearts, lungs, kidneys, corneas and tissues began.

Unexpected questions from Gabriel and his family

After a desperate rush to hospital, doctors tried to revive him but Gabriel was convinced there was no hope. Ilaria OrioTogether with his brother Giuliano and his parents, found the strength to answer “yes” to an unexpected question, posed to them in the waiting room of the intensive care where Gabriel was already like dead: “Don’t you want to object?” to organ harvesting. Gabriel was young and healthy. Before death, he had never mentioned his intention to donate his organs when talking to his family. It was they, his family, who took the courage and embraced each other that led to the vote in favor: from that moment on, the six hours needed to determine the patient’s brain death began. “We later learned that, according to our response, the donation of seven different organs was possible. Obviously we don’t know who received these organs, but Gabriel is young”, warns Ilaria, who has become a volunteer and spokesperson for the National Transplant Center.

An efficient machine that starts with informed consent

With the consent of the family, the organization was launched. “I witnessed the work of a very efficient machine that accompanies Gabriel’s life to those who need it – continues the woman – my brother donated 7 organs and people have been given a new chance of life thanks to the choices we made “. “Gabriele left home as usual and lived his daily life, he never thought that he would not come back “, adds Ilaria. From the pain of losing her brother, she realized that a culture of donation requires widespread citizen awareness. From that moment on, Orio has been committed to ensuring that everyone knows that it is possible to say “yes” to donation in a “less painful” environment than in a hospital resuscitation waiting room. “For example, when renewing your ID or going to the local health department, or as in the past, with a simple ticket in your wallet “, he explains. Also because “statistically, there are more people who need to receive donations than donors”, he concludes.

2023 is the best year for donors reported

According to the National Transplant Center, 2023 was the best year yet in terms of the number of reported donors: 3,092 donors (16.2% more than in 2022), donors used (1,667, up 14.2%) and transplants performed (4,466, up 15.2%). Of these, 198 were performed through the National Emergency Program and 197 transplants involved pediatric patients. The number of transplants from cardiac-quiescent donors was particularly high: there were 444, twice as many as in the previous year. The overall growth in donation and transplant activity led to a slight decrease in the number of patients waiting to receive an organ: as of December 31, 2023, the number of patients waiting for a kidney was 7,941, of whom 76% were waiting for a kidney, compared to 8,112 at the end of 2022.

Turin, Padua and Bologna have the highest number of transplants

In transplant centers, this is City of Health and Science of Turin The highest number of transplants (457) confirmed its first place in kidney and liver transplantation activities.University Hospital of Padua (435), which leads the nation in lung and pancreas transplants, and third is the polyclinic Saint Ursula of Bologna (322). The results stand out in the South Center Barrie PolyclinicIt is the number one center in Italy for the number of heart transplants. In terms of organ procurement activities, 221 hospitals carried out organ donations in 2023: the most active hospitals areVerona Maggiore Civil Hospital (55 donations)Bellaria Hospital Bologna (46) and Careggi Polyclinic Florence (46) Growth in tissue donations (15,327, +24.4%) and transplants (24,944, +15.2%) was also consolidated, as was the donation of hematopoietic stem cells.