According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), more than half of the national transplant waiting list is made up of multicultural populations. That's because some diseases of the kidney, heart, lung, pancreas and liver that are best treated through transplantation are found more frequently in these populations.

For example, African Americans and other minorities are three times more likely to suffer from end-stage renal disease than Caucasians.

Although it is possible for a candidate to match a donor from another racial or ethnic group, transplant success rates increase when organs are matched between members of the same ethnic background. Unfortunately, there is a lack of organs donated by multicultural populations—ultimately contributing to longer waiting periods for transplantation.

August 1 is National Minority Donation Awareness Day, and CHOA has shared two incredible stories from successfull minority transplant patients at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.  The stories of young Carina and Rylen are inspiring and really help emphasize the importance of organ donation.

Carina

Looking at her today—swimming, playing soccer and doing gymnastics—you would never know that 9-year-old Carina is a three-time liver transplant patient. Carina was born with a condition that prevents the liver from functioning properly. At the tender age of 8 months, baby Carina had her first two liver transplants. Due to organ rejection, she had a third transplant at age 2. This time, it was her first from a living donor—Carina’s mom, Anna, who donated part of her liver. Carina’s family made the move from New Mexico to Atlanta so Carina could receive care at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Carlos and Marguerite Mason Transplant Center. Today, thanks to Children’s, Carina can excel in any sport she chooses, because she is now a healthy and happy young girl.

Rylen Littlejohn turned seven this year. For most children it’s an unremarkable birthday. For Rylen it may end up being one of the biggest achievements of his life because it took a new heart to get there. In January of this year, he was a happy, healthy little boy who ran and played with all his friends just like any other 6-year-old. On MLK Jr. Day, he complained of stomach pain to his mom. He threw up a little bit the next day, and a couple of trips to the doctor had all thinking he had a stubborn stomach virus. Six days after the first complaint, doctors told Rylen’s mother that he had an enlarged heart that was quickly wearing itself out, causing Rylen’s body to start shutting down. Rylen needed a new heart.

Rylen

Rylen waited 30 days going in and out of intensive care at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston before the right donor could be found. The surgery took place on March 5, and the very next day, Rylen was sitting up in bed drinking Gatorade. In less than a week he was cleared to go home—no IVs, no pain medication. Now Rylen is steadily on his way to becoming a typical, soon to be, 7-year-old boy again. His first request to the Make-A-Wish Foundation proves it. He told them he wanted to become a Transformer–a tough task to pull off. But in a way, Rylen’s already done it.