WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) -- If you've ever known someone on the organ transplant wait list you know the process is grueling, emotional and there's no guarantee you may get off that list.
As of today -- more than 100,000 Americans are waiting for an organ transplant according to data collected by a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
New technology being used right here in South Florida is increasing the amount of successful organ transplants.
I didn't realize how sick I was.
"I didn't realize how sick I was," said Katelyn Turk, an organ recipient.
For about 10 years, Turk struggled with her health going to doctor after doctor waiting for answers.
"We found out it was the disease I have, which is Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis," Turk told CBS12 News.
Eventually, she was put on the liver transplant waitlist and last October she got the news she was waiting for.
"When [doctors] opened the door they said, 'hey we have a liver for you,'" Turk said.
Turk tells CBS12 News doctors used the organ perfusion pump on her new liver.
Dr. Bobby Zervos explains how it works.
"When we would retrieve a liver, it would be placed on ice and shipped to the transplant center," Dr. Zervos told CBS12 News. "Now we have the options of connecting the liver, at the donor hospital, and perfusing it with blood and other important minerals vitamins."
When we would retrieve a liver, it would be placed on ice and shipped to the transplant center. Now we have the options of connecting the liver, at the donor hospital, and perfusing it with blood and other important minerals vitamins.
Before this technology came on the market, Dr. Zervos explains many livers were not used out of concern they wouldn't function right away in a new body or about the quality of the organ.
This machine allows doctors to monitor the organ in real time so they can be certain the organ is viable.
It's been used for livers, hearts and kidneys.
Dr. Zeros explains the pump can keep the organ going for several hours and in some countries early studies suggest it can keep the organ alive for several days, which is much longer than the traditional way.
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Turk credits this revolutionary technology with changing her life.
Doctors were able to harvest the liver from a 50-year-old gentleman in another part of Florida, ensure it's viable for the transplant and perform her surgery.
"I am extremely thankful to my donor's family," Turk told CBS12 News. "They are now my extended family that I don't know yet. But I hope to one day meet them."
Anyone can become an organ donor here Florida -- to register click here.
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