The human body; it begins as a single cell and grows into a complex machine composed of seventy-eight distinct organs, two hundred and six bones, and millions of nerves that communicate with each other to regulate bodily processes and keep the machine alive and well. This seemingly perfect system suffers countless attacks every day and manages to recover from most, although occasionally it fails to do so. Diseases such as cystic fibrosis and coronary artery disease, or anomalies and defects such as biliary atresia, can impair the function of human organs (“Transplant Australia,” n.d. ). Luckily, thanks to radical advances in modern medicine, organ transplants are a safe and highly viable option for restoring the perfect harmony of the human body. Regardless of the reason for organ failure, once it occurs, the patient's journey to receiving a new organ begins. Through organ matching, the process and complications that come with it, the ethical questions, and the testing of new advances, the journey is long. Organ donations can come from living or deceased patients. Living transplants are often performed from one family member to another and include donations of kidneys, parts of the lungs and liver, small intestine, and some tissue donations (“Overview of Organ Transplants,” n.d.). Donations from deceased patients occur after the donor has been classified as neurologically dead and then the organs are available for transplantation to patients on the donor list. Neurological death is the accumulation of blood or fluid in the brain cavity, which increases intracranial pressure and limits the flow of oxygen to the brain (Olson, 2002). Once the brain loses its oxygen supply, it dies. Unlike other organs, such as the heart, the brain cannot...... middle of paper ....... The problem of transplants | 5 discoveries that will change the future of organ transplants. Time. Retrieved from http://healthland.time.com/2013/06/06/5-discoveries-that-will-change-the-future-of-organ-transplants/slide/the-problem-with-transplants/Stiller, C. R. & Stiller, B. (1990). Gifts of Life: The True Story of Organ Transplants. Toronto, Canada: Stoddart.Suchetka, D. (2012, August 19). “Phantom Heart,” a facility to grow new human hearts, could be the answer for thousands of people waiting for a new heart. cleveland.com. Retrieved from http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2012/08/ghost_heart_a_framework_for_gr.htmlSupport for Families. (n.d.). Trillium Gift of Life Network. Retrieved from http://www.giftoflife.on.ca/en/donorsupport.htmTransplant Australia. (n.d.). AU transplant. Retrieved from http://www.transplant.org.au/Why-people-need-transplants.html