National Hispanic Heritage Month

Observed annually from September 15 – October 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month commemorates the histories and cultures of American citizens and their ancestors from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Hispanics and Latinx Americans in the United States have positively influenced multicultural communities nationwide through their service, traditions, and inventions including important work on the improvement of intensive care for newborns and contributions to X-ray technologies.

This observation has been celebrated since 1968 and spans the independence anniversaries of the five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, as well as Mexico, and Chile.

This annual recognition celebrates the influence of Hispanic and Latinx communities in shaping a brighter future for all. Throughout this month, we will honor the Hispanic and Latinx Americans in our region who have given others the gift of life through organ and tissue donation, as well as celebrate the renewed life of those who have been given a second chance through transplantation.

A second chance for people like Oscar Sainz, a Spokane, Wash. resident and heart transplant recipient, who describes his post-transplant life with vigor.

“I expected to be physically stronger, which I am, but to my surprise is the effect this experience has had on me mentally,” says Oscar. “It’s like I was on a different level, details and emotions seem to be enhanced. I’ve truly been blessed with renewed life; the opportunities have been endless. I now have two granddaughters and enjoy spending time with them as they practice their competitive cheerleading. Fishing, too, has always been my passion. My son and I have spent countless hours chasing fish after fish on the river.”

Antonio Espinoza of Wapato, Wash. was a young man known for his love for people and his willingness to lend a listening ear. He greatly valued time with his family and friends.

Just days after his 21st birthday, Antonio suffered a brain aneurysm and died. His family made the generous decision to donate his two kidneys, liver and lungs to individuals on the organ transplant waiting list.

Antonio’s lung recipient, Joyce Baker, can now breathe without an oxygen tank and return to a life of hiking and dancing. She believes that she would not be here if it were not for Antonio, her hero.

Antonio’s sister, Ana Espinoza, finds comfort in knowing that Antonio lives on in the four lives he saved through organ donation.

According to data from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, nearly 21 percent of the 108,958 patients currently on the transplant waiting list are Hispanic.

Organ transplantation can be successful regardless of the ethnicity of the donor and recipient. However, transplant success rates increase if the donor and recipient share compatible blood types and tissue markers. Therefore, it’s vital that we expand the pool of donors, now and always, to ensure transplantation success for as many people as possible.

Register your decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor at a local Washington state Department of Licensing office or online at www.lcnw.org.

The facts:

• 22,627 Hispanics are on the organ transplant waiting list. The majority of these patients are waiting for a life-saving kidney transplant.
• Hispanic Americans are 1.5 times more likely than white Americans to suffer end stage renal disease and diabetes, two conditions that often necessitate a kidney transplant.

1) Data from Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network as of Sept. 2020: https://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/

2) National Kidney Foundation: kidney.org

3) United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS): https://unos.org/transplant/facts/

About LifeCenter Northwest:
Founded in 1997, LifeCenter Northwest serves nearly 8.3 million people as the federally designated organ procurement organization for Alaska, Montana, North Idaho and Washington. In addition, LifeCenter Northwest is an American Association of Tissue Banks accredited tissue recovery organization. The organization works collaboratively with over 200 hospitals. Last year, LifeCenter Northwest saved more lives than ever before by recovering 878 organs for transplant from 271 donors. For more information, or to register to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor, go to www.lcnw.org.