Katherine Screws, a Phoenix, Arizona resident, survived a May 2022 car crash that destroyed her small intestine. The injury forced her onto IV nutrition and left her unable to work as an engineer or start a family. While doctors initially told her a transplant could arrive within six months, she waited three years before receiving a new intestine.
Learning to navigate a complex system
During her ordeal, Screws met with an organ procurement organization (OPO) that explained how hospitals differ in accepting organs. Armed with that knowledge, she traveled across the country to a transplant center that was more willing to consider her case. “I wish there was more clarity for patients about when an organ might become available and why it isn’t a match,” Screws said after her successful surgery.
Why waiting times vary
Experts say the transplant system often fails to give patients clear guidance. Dr. Syed Ali Husain of NYU Langone Health noted a study showing a sixteen‑fold variation in kidney‑transplant speed between centers. Experience with complex anatomy, such as extra arteries, and willingness to use organs from older or sicker donors also affect decisions.
Intestine transplants are especially rare and technically demanding. Lisa Stocks, a nurse with OneLegacy—one of the nation’s largest OPOs—explained that many offers are declined, leaving patients discouraged. In 2025, only 88 people in the United States received a new intestine, compared with more than 27,000 kidney transplants.
Tools to help patients advocate
Dr. Allyson Hart of Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute helped design an online database that lets patients compare waiting times and other characteristics of transplant hospitals. “Too many patients think they just need to wait five years and an organ will appear,” Hart warned, noting that proactive research often shortens the wait.
National context and ongoing reforms
Last year, U.S. hospitals performed just over 49,000 transplants, a record high driven by increased donations from deceased donors. Yet about 100,000 people remain on waiting lists, the majority needing kidneys. About one‑in‑five donated organs go unused because a suitable recipient is not found in time.
The federal government is reviewing the OPO grading system that could close some of the 55 OPOs nationwide. Critics argue the system unfairly penalizes OPOs for organs that surgeons decline, while supporters say it encourages better procurement. Lawsuits are pending, including one by OneLegacy seeking to block closures.
Hospitals are also being graded, which may discourage them from using “less‑than‑perfect” organs for fear of lower scores. Medicare is piloting financial incentives to increase kidney‑transplant activity and reduce organ waste.
Patient perspective
Screws described herself as a “passionate foodie” whose life was upended by the accident. She wrote to OPOs asking them to confirm that matching programs properly prioritize small‑bowel donations. Her outreach prompted OneLegacy staff to show her how to use the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients database, ultimately helping her secure a transplant at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Her story underscores the importance of patient education, transparent organ‑allocation policies, and continued reform to ensure that life‑saving organs reach those in need more efficiently.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
