At 98 years old, Orville Allen, a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War, passed away but made one last contribution by donating his liver to a 72-year-old woman. Despite his age, surgeons determined that his liver was suitable for transplant, and his family didn’t hesitate to honor his giving nature by agreeing to the donation. Allen’s act of generosity made him the oldest American to ever donate an organ, surpassing the previous record held by Cecil Lockhart, who was 95 when he donated his liver in 2021.
The number of organ donations and transplants has been increasing steadily, with a record-breaking year in 2020 seeing over 16,000 donations and more than 46,000 transplants performed. Liver transplants alone exceeded 10,000 for the first time ever. However, despite these advancements, the need for organs remains high, with over 100,000 people on the national waiting list. Scientists are exploring alternatives such as genetically-modified pig kidneys to address the ongoing shortages and save more lives. Older adults, like Allen, are increasingly able to donate organs upon their death as medical advancements have made age less of a limiting factor.
Kevin Lee, president and CEO of Mid-America Transplant, noted that medical teams now evaluate each individual’s medical eligibility for organ donation, rather than focusing solely on age. Organs like the liver have been successfully donated by individuals in their 80s and 90s, demonstrating their resilience and capacity to provide life-saving benefits to recipients. While aging can impact different organs differently, organ donation at advanced ages has been shown to be successful and beneficial for recipients. However, certain organs like hearts may not be considered from senior donors by some transplant centers.
Orville Allen spent his life in service, both as a veteran and an educator in rural southeastern Missouri. Despite never officially signing up to be an organ donor, his family hopes that his story will inspire others to register as donors. Many people who attended his visitation and funeral expressed their intention to become donors after hearing his story. For his family, being able to donate his organ was a source of uplift and positivity during a difficult time. They emphasized the importance and impact of organ donation, noting how it can extend someone’s life and benefit their family members.
