The Gift Of Life
Roni Bradley
ENG 101 MW
Research Paper
2 April 2012
The Special Gift That Could Change the World
Imagine being in the hospital because both kidneys are not working properly. Imagine the doctor having to explain that it is life threatening unless one kidney is replaced. At this point it is terrifying the many things that must run through the patients mind. Who has a big enough heart to give up a kidney in order to save a life? Who is selfish enough not to care? Although it is a very stressful and emotional situation, it prolongs every single day. According to Susan Aldridge’s article “Organ transplants” more than 121,000 people are waiting for an organ transplant in the United States today. Sadly, over 6,500 people have died waiting on an organ transplant. If broken down, it results to eight people dying each day (Aldridge 606).
Kidneys are the most common organ transplant, with the intestine being the least common. A transplant procedure may range from the liver, heart, pancreas and lungs (Kasper 1). In 1933, the first kidney transplant was first tested by Dr. YuYu Voronoy (Klintmalm 1). Immunosuppression was not used because this procedure was only being introduced for the first time. Unfortunately, the first procedure was unsuccessful, but it did not stop other doctors from striving to find a cure to a disease that was affecting several people. Doctor Peter Madawar became interested the reasoning behind the transplant rejection. Indeed he began to define rejection as well as the immunology of transplantation (why the immune system fights off the organ). His goal was quite successful and it helped candidates (patients) prepare for appropriate treatment to fights against the immune system. Medawar was rewarded for his knowledge and hard work by receiving the Nobel Prize in Medical Work in 1948. Doctor Rene Kuss applied Medawars knowledge to his own and performed a kidney transplant in 1951, which resulted in success. Despite the fact the kidney only
ENG 101 MW
Research Paper
2 April 2012
The Special Gift That Could Change the World
Imagine being in the hospital because both kidneys are not working properly. Imagine the doctor having to explain that it is life threatening unless one kidney is replaced. At this point it is terrifying the many things that must run through the patients mind. Who has a big enough heart to give up a kidney in order to save a life? Who is selfish enough not to care? Although it is a very stressful and emotional situation, it prolongs every single day. According to Susan Aldridge’s article “Organ transplants” more than 121,000 people are waiting for an organ transplant in the United States today. Sadly, over 6,500 people have died waiting on an organ transplant. If broken down, it results to eight people dying each day (Aldridge 606).
Kidneys are the most common organ transplant, with the intestine being the least common. A transplant procedure may range from the liver, heart, pancreas and lungs (Kasper 1). In 1933, the first kidney transplant was first tested by Dr. YuYu Voronoy (Klintmalm 1). Immunosuppression was not used because this procedure was only being introduced for the first time. Unfortunately, the first procedure was unsuccessful, but it did not stop other doctors from striving to find a cure to a disease that was affecting several people. Doctor Peter Madawar became interested the reasoning behind the transplant rejection. Indeed he began to define rejection as well as the immunology of transplantation (why the immune system fights off the organ). His goal was quite successful and it helped candidates (patients) prepare for appropriate treatment to fights against the immune system. Medawar was rewarded for his knowledge and hard work by receiving the Nobel Prize in Medical Work in 1948. Doctor Rene Kuss applied Medawars knowledge to his own and performed a kidney transplant in 1951, which resulted in success. Despite the fact the kidney only