COVID's impact is reducing pool of organ donors

DENISON, Texas (KTEN) — COVID-19 claimed the life of Krista Waitt's husband John.

He spent 33 days at Texoma Medical Center before succumbing to the illness on January 9, 2021.

"When I think of the word 'selfless,' I think of my husband," Krista said. "He devoted his entire life to caring for other people."

John Waitt, who was 59 years old when he died, had been a physical therapist. He had also registered to be an organ donor. 

"Unfortunately, because of COVID and the time he died and the havoc it wreaked on his body in general, he was not eligible to donate his organs," Krista said. "If we could've done that, it would have made his life that much more meaningful.

Organ donations are always in short supply; the pandemic is making the situation even more critical for recipients.

"The new challenge is, because COVID can cause organ damage, we now have to evaluate for whether the organs are healthy... even though the infection has been resolved," explained Jeff Orlowski, president of LifeShare of Oklahoma, which .

He added that the transplant waiting list has grown because of COVID-19, especially for recipients who need a lung transplant.

"There are people out there whose life depends on folks making the decision to be a donor," Orlowski said. "While the lungs may not be transplantable, there are many other organs that can be transplanted."

Krista Waitt encourages others to discuss organ donation options with loved ones; it was a discussion that she and John had several times before his death.

"It's the best way show our fellow humans that we care," she said.