**Woman Becomes Organ Donation Advocate After Prolonged Wait for Transplant**
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Katherine Screws, a 25-year-old from Phoenix, has turned her traumatic experience into a passionate advocacy for clearer communication within the organ donation process. Her mission stems from her personal struggle to obtain a life-saving small intestine transplant after suffering severe injuries in a car accident in May 2022.
On the brink of starting a new chapter in her life as a newlywed, Screws faced an unexpected tragedy that left her unable to eat or digest food. The devastating car crash resulted in the removal of her small intestine, forcing her onto intravenous nutrition while she awaited a transplant. Initially, she was informed that a suitable organ could become available within six months. However, as time stretched into three years without news, frustration began to grow.
Driven by a sense of urgency, Screws embarked on research into the intricacies of the organ donation system. What she uncovered was a complex network of organ procurement organisations (OPOs), hospitals, and transplant centres that often operate in silos, lacking sufficient communication about available organs and patients in need. This revelation only added to her distress during an already agonising waiting period.
The challenges surrounding small intestine transplants are particularly daunting. According to the National Institutes of Health, these organs face significant difficulties, such as maintaining blood flow and managing immune rejection. In 2025, the statistics were stark: Only 88 people received new intestines that year, contrasting sharply with 27,000 kidney transplants, highlighting the acute scarcity of donor intestines.
As Screws delved deeper into her research, she became aware of the differing criteria hospitals applied when deciding to accept or reject available organs. What troubled her most was the lack of transparency regarding her situation; she remained in the dark about why a match had not been found for her despite her pressing need.
Determined to make her voice heard, Screws reached out to various OPOs, sharing her account of how the removal of her intestine had drastically changed her life and ability to work. “This accident completely derailed my life, and the wait for a new organ has been excruciating,” she reflected. Her advocacy work emerged from a need not only to address her own plight but to improve the experience of others in similar circumstances.
Screws’ efforts caught the attention of Lisa Stocks, a nurse with the California OPO OneLegacy. Stocks confirmed Screws’ findings, noting that small intestine donations are often turned down, leading to a demoralising situation for patients like Screws. Working together, they examined the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients database, aiming to identify hospitals more active in performing intestinal transplants.
In June 2025, following a long and arduous journey, Screws finally received the news she had been waiting for. She flew across the country to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., where she underwent surgery to receive a new small intestine from a donor in Chicago.
After surviving the medical hurdles, her focus shifted to addressing the crucial issue of education surrounding the organ donation process. Screws stressed the need for increased awareness among patients regarding the intricacies of matching and the factors that might delay the transplant process. “I wish that there was more clarity with patients about when an organ might come up as a match and why it may not work out,” she expressed.
Reflecting on her experience, Screws hopes that her advocacy can lead to better communication not only between medical institutions but also with those on the transplant list. “Understanding what’s holding up the process is something I wish I had asked earlier,” she admitted. Through her journey, she aims to shed light on the complexities faced by many awaiting organ transplants, advocating for a system that prioritises transparency and compassion in the life-or-death stakes of organ donation.
In an era where medical advancements continue to evolve, the importance of effective communication and patient education remains paramount. Screws’ story serves as a reminder of the human dimension behind medical statistics, providing a voice for those who may feel lost within the complex structures of healthcare. Her journey from patient to advocate exemplifies the pressing need for change in the organ donation process, ensuring that no one else has to endure the same isolation and uncertainty she faced during her lengthy wait.