In a significant move for the Florida medical community, AdventHealth partnered with organ procurement organization OurLegacy to open a new organ donor center in Orlando. The OurLegacy Center, Florida's first such facility, serves as a specialized intensive care unit for brain-dead individuals designated for organ donation. According to ClickOrlando, the center aims to address the urgent need for organ transplants in a state where an estimated 104,000 people are on the waiting list.
A new dawn in organ donation has thus been marked with the unveiling of this facility, which expects to see a surge in the number of organs available for patients in dire need. Dr. Bobby Nibhanupudy, medical director for the AdventHealth Transplant Institute's abdominal transplant program and OurLegacy, highlighted the center's potential impact, stating, "It’s become an innovation in the organ donation community and the transplant community to not only increase the number of organs available for transplantation but also to help take care of the families of these donor heroes," in an interview, reported by ClickOrlando.
The OurLegacy Center stands out with its ability to provide comprehensive services in one location. A 50-person team is dedicated to ensuring that donors' critical and surgical care needs are met. Beyond the medical spectrum, the center supports donor families, facilitating time and space for grieving and healing. "Organ donors are heroes. In my experience, families of these very generous organ heroes want to make sure that their loved one’s final act on earth is one of grace and generosity," Executive Director for OurLegacy Ginny McBride said, per ClickOrlando.
Reinforcing the impact of organ donation, the story of the Dawkins family was cited by WFTV; their daughter, Brooke's organs saved four lives after her passing in 2014. "You wish you’d had more time," Chris Dawkins, Brooke’s father, said. "I think with that room, you would get that time. I think it would promote the healing." The new center provides just such a space, aiming to deliver care and consideration that transcends the clinical.
With the OurLegacy Center now operational, the potential for lifesaving organ transplants in Florida has significantly increased. For those interested in becoming part of this life-affirming program, information about organ donation registration is available through the Florida donor registry.
