Organ transplants increased amid the pandemic
COLUMBUS — Organ transplants were up across the country in 2021 according to the United Networks of Organ Sharing.
There were 41,354 organ transplants performed across the country, Joshua Schriber included.
“I just remember thinking to myself, ‘Wow, maybe that’s something I could do,” said Shriber.
Schriber is the second person in his family to donate a kidney to his father. His mother donated over 20 years ago.
“Once I found out we had matching blood types, there was nothing that was going to stop me,” said Schriber.
The family even had the same follow-up doctor for both transplants in Dr. Todd Pesavento, medical director of the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Comprehensive Transplant Center.
“I evaluated the wife, and I evaluated his son who donated the second time, so it’s a really nice circle for me as well,” said Pesavento.
He credits the increase of transplant surgeries to his team at OSU and the availability of more resources.
“It’s taking advantage of what is already available and using new technologies,” said Pesavento. “Organ preservation that we didn’t have maybe five years ago that allows us to use lungs and livers and hearts that previously we couldn’t utilize.”
The number of surgeries in 2021 bypassed those in 2020 by 5.9%. While it’s a big decision and Schreiber understands why people would be hesitant, he shared the first-hand experience that helped calmed his nerves.
“My mom came home from the hospital, and a week later, she was already making lunches for us to go to school, that kind of thing,” said Schriber. “Life doesn’t really stop so I know that’s a concern for a lot of people.”
While elective surgeries were paused throughout 2020 and 2021, Ohio State never paused transplants.