Rush University Medical Center to open innovative organ donor care center

CHICAGO - Rush University Medical Center is opening a new department, the only one of its kind in the Midwest, aimed at saving more lives through organ donation.

A cutting-edge Organ Donor Care Center will be situated on the fifth floor of Rush Hospital. This state-of-the-art facility will meticulously preserve the organs of deceased organ donors in an ICU setting, enhancing their viability for patients on organ waitlists.

Currently, there are 4,000 people in the Chicagoland area awaiting organ donations.

The establishment of this new center is a collaborative effort between Rush and the Gift of Hope organization.

During Monday's announcement, the fiancée of an organ donor shared her thoughts.

"When the unfortunate happened, and we determined that Alphonso was not going to make it, I was comforted to know that his gifts went to save so many lives. To date, it's been 114 lives that his gifts have touched," said Andrea Collins.

To register as an organ donor, you can visit GiftOfHope.org.