The blood type associated with each potential donor and candidate. Blood types can be A, B, AB or O. Blood types must match between donors and recipients.

Plan for how organs are distributed. The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) lists organs in the order they should be allocated.

Prescribed medication that individuals who have received an organ must take in order to help the body accept the donated organ. They typically must take the medications their entire life, though the dosage decreases substantially over the years. FK506 (Prograf) and Cyclosporine are the most common anti-rejection medications.

The permanent, irreversible neurological cessation of brain function, including the brain stem. If the brain does not receive blood or oxygen, it cannot tell the body, including the heart, to work. Brain death is different from brain damage and coma.

Located at the base of the skull, this portion of the brain is considered the “command center” of the body.

Occurs when the heart stops beating and ceases to send blood or oxygen to the body.

A person awaiting a transplant.

Deep and often prolonged unconsciousness, usually caused by disease or injury.

The Center for Organ Recovery & Education, the not-for-profit, regional agency that manages the donor program in Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Chemung County, NY. CORE talks with families about the opportunity to donate and then mobilizes the transplant teams for the appropriate recovery. CORE also is responsible for medical managemen [..]

The clear tissue covering the front surface of the eye that permits light to enter and provides most of the focusing power.