Vallo della Lucania – During the night between April 8 and 9, at the hospital in Vallo della Lucania (Salerno), a multi-organ harvest was successfully performed on a 17-year-old patient who had been diagnosed with an irreversible absence of brain activity.
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A complex operation, completed in the early hours of the morning, which allowed the donation of livers and kidneys to patients waiting for transplants in various Italian regions.
Intervention and procedure after parental consent
After the parents' consent, the director of the UOC of Resuscitation activated the Commission for the verification of brain death, composed of the resuscitator Michele Bosco, the neurologist Anna Silvestro and the medical director Teresa De Pascale. The tests, which began at 9 and concluded at 15, confirmed the state of brain death, paving the way for the sampling operations.
The surgery, performed with precision and timeliness, was possible thanks to the collaboration between surgical teams, laboratories and numerous healthcare professionals. “In such a painful moment – we read in a note from ASL Salerno – we want to express our closeness to the parents and family of the young donor, thanking them for the courage shown in such a tragic circumstance. Their gesture of love and solitude“idarietà offers new hope to those who suffer.”
An act that can change the future of other human lives
This case puts the spotlight back on the topic of organ donation, an act of extraordinary generosity that, despite scientific progress, continues to clash with information gaps and cultural resistance. In Italy, every day about 10 people die waiting for a transplant, while a single donor can save up to 7 lives.
The words of the ASL Salerno underline the ethical and social value of the gesture: "We hope that this noble example can encourage an ever greater diffusion of the culture of donation, because every donated organ represents a second chance for those who are fighting between life and death".
How to become a donor?
To express your will, simply register with the National Donor Registry or fill out a form at the relevant ASL. The choice can also be indicated on the health card or communicated to family members, who in the event of brain death will be called upon to confirm it.
The one in Vallo della Lucania is a drama that turns into hope: a boy who is no longer with us has given other young people - and not so young - the chance to continue living. Because, as the Ministry of Health campaign reminds us, "donating an organ is donating a future".
Article published on 10 April 2025 - 12:25
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It is really a very touching situation and the gesture of donating organs is important. We hope that more people can get informed and decide to become donors, because every life saved is a great gift. Communication must improve.
This organ donation initiative is a great one, but I don't understand why there are still so many people who are against it. They should be more informed and understand that it can save lives, like this young boy did.
It is sad that a young person has to die to donate, but it is an important thing for those waiting for a transplant. I hope that more people understand the importance of donating organs and that there is more information on this subject.
This article talks about a very sensitive topic which is organ donation. But I wonder if there is enough information for the public. Many do not know how to proceed and this is a problem. The culture of donation must grow.