Several members have asked how one becomes an Organ Donor in the event of unexpected death.  Dr. Christian has been an integral part of the Texas Transplant Institute Cardiac Transplant and Ventricular Device program since 1985 having served primarily as the surgeon who harvests the hearts and assists with Transplantation and other surgery.  Donate Life Texas is the Official Texas State Registry of those who have indicated their desire to be an organ donor.  When you apply for or renew your Drivers License at the DPS office you can register to be a donor.  The DPS will send you a confirmation letter and  Donor Card and your name will then be entered into the Donate Life Texas Registry.  You can also go directly to the Donate Life Texas Website and download the forms necessary to become a part of the Registry. There is a critical shortage of organs, tissues and eyes available for donation. There are more than 96,000 patients in the United States awaiting transplantation—more than 7,000 are Texans. Every 13 minutes, a new name is added to the national transplant waiting list. Every day, 17 people die waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. UNOS brings together medicine, science, public policy and technology to facilitate every organ transplant performed in the United States. Every day, UNOS assists transplant doctors, patients, and members of the public by helping to ensure that organs are procured and distributed in a fair and timely manner.     The UNOS Website.