Orland Park Woman Encourages Hispanic Community To Donate Organs

ORLAND PARK, IL — Orland Park resident Anita Tracy lost her 21-year-old son, John, in April 2000. She said that when he passed, she immediately asked to speak with someone about donating his organs.

"Maybe it could help others," she thought at the time.

"I didn't know anything about the process or the miracle behind organ tissue and cornea donations," Tracy said. "I just wanted them to take everything or anything they could just to help a single person. That's the kind of person John was. He was always there to help without hesitation."

Hispanic Americans like Tracy are disproportionately in need of organs transplants but less likely to register to be donors, according to the National Institutes of Health. She hopes her story can change that, and said that by donating his organs, John saved seven lives.

"I was sitting at home one morning, when I opened a thank-you card I received in the mail from the wife and three daughters of the man who now has John's heart beating inside him," Tracy said. "It was like, just something hit me. I was still in so much grief though. But at that moment I realized I needed to convince everyone to register as a donor."

Tracy encouraged others in her situation to help save lives through organ donation.

"Register today ... share your decision with someone, convinced them to register as well," Tracy said. "Don't take your organs to heaven, for heaven knows we need them here."

During National Hispanic Heritage Month, the Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network is encouraging others like Tracy to say “yes” to organ and tissue donation by joining the registry and authorizing donation on a loved one’s behalf.

The organization said that although more than 6,700 people of Hispanic descent received organ transplants in 2019, myths regarding organ and tissue donation continue to be major barriers preventing Hispanic Americans from registering as donors. Gift of Hope said that as of July 2020, there were 22,689 Hispanics Americans on the transplant waiting list nationally and 791 on the list in Illinois.

According to the organization, that's because organs from donors of the same race or ethnic heritage decrease the risk of organ rejection and improve transplant success rates. As a result, there is a critical need for more diverse organ, eye and tissues donors. Genetic makeup is especially important for kidney donation, and Latinos are three times more likely to suffer from end stage kidney disease, which can lead to the need for a kidney transplant, according to Gift of Hope.

"The gift of organ and tissue donation can save and enhance the life of the recipient and provide a lasting legacy for a loved one," said Jennifer Aguilar, community outreach specialist for Gift of Hope. "During National Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re honoring the generosity of Hispanic organ and tissue donors and their families. We’re also celebrating Hispanic transplant recipients, medical professionals and partners by sharing their stories and providing opportunities to learn more about organ and tissue donation."

The not-for-profit organization said that educational efforts and events during the month aim to empower individuals to learn more about the lifesaving benefits of donation.

"Gift of Hope’s mission is founded on the core belief that donation transcends all forms of diversity, connects people from all walks of life and offers the gift of life and healing to people in need," the organization's incoming CEO Harry Wilkins said. "We also believe that it is through cultural understanding and humility that we can better serve our Hispanic donors and their families."

The organization said during National Hispanic Heritage Month they are encouraging Hispanic Americans to make a difference by taking three easy steps to help save lives:

• Register today to become an organ and tissue donor through the Gift of Hope website or by texting COMMIT or REGALO to 51555
• Have a conversation about donations with friends and family
• Consider donating to the Illinois Transplant Fund — founded by Gift of Hope in 2015