Organs, including heart, lungs, liver, kidney, pancreas, and small intestine, as well as tissues, including skin, bones, veins, heart valves, tendons, and ligaments.

A critical need for organs currently exists in the United States; the criteria for donation are changing constantly. Today, anyone can be considered for organ and/or tissue donation, regardless of age or illness. No one should exclude him or herself from the possibility of donating on the basis of age or medical history.

Almost anyone can be an eye donor. Cataracts, poor eyesight, and age does not prohibit you from being a donor.

Depending on the type of cancer and whether you are currently in remission, you may be able to donate organs. If the cancer is not blood-borne or has not progressed to the eye, corneal donation is an option.

Great care is taken to preserve the appearance of the donor. Because recovery of organs and tissues is a surgical procedure, incisions are made for the specific recovery. This does not prohibit an open-casket funeral.

There is no cost to the donor's estate or insurance company for anything related to donation.

It is important for both parties that confidentiality is maintained. Initial correspondence is coordinated through the transplant center and Donor Network of Arizona, which will forward the letters to the donor families or recipients. In the event that both parties wish to meet each other, Donor Network of Arizona will facilitate this.

Donation does not affect customary funeral arrangements.

No, it is illegal to buy or sell organs. Severe penalties are imposed for violators.

In most cases, yes. Organ size is critical for matching donor and recipient hearts, livers, and lungs. Genetic makeup between kidney and pancreas donors and recipients is more critical, due to genetic makeup. For this reason, for example, Hispanics may "match" better with a kidney donated from another Hispanic than from any other race.