Bernadette Sedillos Self/ El Paso Times

In a matter of minutes, Bud Sanders can make the transformation from regular guy to "The King."

Once he dons the white Elvis suit, studded with colored beads and rhinestones, Sanders adjusts his huge buckle and strikes a classic Presley pose: legs outstretched, lip slightly curled and hands pointing outward.

"OK, I'm ready now," the 52-year-old says, running his hand through his Elvis-style hair and adjusting his 1970s-style glasses.

A few twists of the head, loosening of his shoulders and several Elvis"moves" later, Sanders dashes on stage to entertain at a holiday party. As the beat grinds, so does Sanders -- so does the applause.

"I got a woman ... across town ... she's good to me," he belts out. For the next hour, Sanders gyrates, grooves, gets down on his knees. Elvis would be proud.

Watching the energetic impersonator, one wouldn't know that four months ago Sanders had a kidney removed. He wasn't ill, but a friend of nearly 30 years was. So Sanders donated one of his healthy kidneys to his pal, who is also a co-worker.

Today, donor and recipient are doing well.

The recipient chooses not to speak publicly about the operation. Sanders does so because he hopes others will think about "stepping up to the plate."

"It's been an experience," he said. "Seeing my friend feel so much better and not have to go to dialysis anymore, yeah, it makes me feel good. But it's not about me; it's about being able to help other people.

"A lot of people could do this, you know, and help save a life," Sanders said.

A long list

Today in Texas, at least 5,876 people are on a waiting list for organs, according to the Southwest Transplant Alliance, a regional entity that helps coordinate organ donations throughout Texas.

Of those, 4,081 are awaiting a kidney -- an organ that can be removed from a "live" donor, like Sanders.

Nationwide, about 87,000 people are waiting for an organ, according to the alliance.

The majority of the 60,152 people on the organ waiting list in the United States need kidneys. The second most-needed organ is the liver, with 17,489 people on the national list.

There are 1,247 Texans awaiting a liver transplant. Thousands more need a heart, lung, pancreas, bone marrow or other organs and tissues.

Many people don't think about organ donation or, when they do, they view it from the perspective of death, said Pam Silvestri, public affairs director with the transplant alliance, headquartered in Dallas.

"Organ donation is about life and giving someone another chance to live a healthy life," Silvestri said. "That's the way more people should look at it; they're giving life."

That's certainly the way Northeast El Pasoan Evangelina Marlin, who received a heart transplant in 1997, views it.

"God smiled on me," the 64-year-old said. "I don't take it for granted. I know my health comes from God and that I wouldn't be alive if I didn't have this man's heart."

Her 39-year-old donor, from the Houston area, was mortally injured in a crash.

More donations needed
The national organ waiting list has tripled during the past 10 years, Silvestri said. But the number of donations isn't keeping pace with demand. About 25,000 people in the United States receive a transplant annually.

Unfortunately, about 17 people die each day while waiting for a donor, Silvestri said.

Luis Quiroz, a 45-year-old father of two, said he knows he would not be alive today if it weren't for an El Paso family's decision to donate their mortally injured son's heart.

The Eastsider received the heart of 15-year-old El Pasoan Nicolas Huerta in December 1998.

"Nicholas was my angel," Quiroz said. He added that he is grateful to the youth's family for consenting to donate the teen's organs.

Quiroz takes opportunities to speak to schoolchildren and adults about his transplant. "More Hispanics need to think about donation," Quiroz said. "The need is very great."

Traditionally, organ donation rates have been low in El Paso and other border areas, Silvestri said. But that's changing.

"There's a growing awareness of the need for organ donation here," Silvestri said. "We've had a lot of donations from El Paso during the past few years.

I'm not saying we couldn't use more, because there's such a huge need, but we are seeing progress."

There isn't one overall waiting list for El Pasoans awaiting organs. Lists are kept by some of the area hospitals individually, Silvestri explained.

Sierra Medical Center is the only place in El Paso where kidney transplants are performed. Heart, liver, pancreas and other organs must be transplanted in other cities.

"I would say that kidneys are probably at the top of the list in El Paso, as they are statewide and across the nation," Silvestri said.

Sierra's kidney-transplant clinic has a waiting list of 80 people in need of a kidney. Doctors at the hospital perform about 30 transplants a year, said Judy Pozzerle, assistant director of the transplant clinic.

Kidneys are in high demand largely because of renal disease caused by diabetes and hypertension. Other factors include genetic kidney diseases and injuries.

Silvestri said "live" donations -- such as kidneys taken from living donors -- demonstrate that people can live healthy lives after giving a kidney to someone in need.

Today, live donors also can give part of their liver. In children, the liver will grow to a larger size, Silvestri said, and adults who donate part of their liver usually will regenerate" at least some of the missing organ.

Many families still struggle with the issue of organ or tissue donation. That will continue to change with education, Silvestri said.

"If someone is thinking about becoming an organ donor, it's very important
to discuss it with family members," Silvestri said.

"If a person makes known their wish and has a donor card already signed and the family members know it was the wish of the person to donate organs, it's a lot easier on the family than forcing them to make the decision when they're in shock over losing someone."

Myths and facts of organ donation
1. Myth: If emergency room doctors know you're an organ donor, they won't work as hard to save you. Fact: If you are sick or injured and admitted to the hospital, the No. 1 priority is to save your life. Organ donation can be considered only if you die, and after family has been consulted.

2. Myth: Celebrities and wealthy people receive organs first. Fact: What really counts is the severity of the illness, time spent waiting, blood type and other important medical information.

3. Myth: Having "organ donor" noted on your driver's license or carrying a donor card is all you need to become a donor. Fact: While a signed donor card and a driver's license with an organ donor designation are legal documents, organ and tissue donation is always discussed with family members.

4. Myth: My family will be charged for donating my organs. Fact: There is no cost to the donor's family or estate.

ORGAN DONATION

Southwest Transplant Alliance: Hot line, (800) 788-8058. www.organ.org

Donor cards can be downloaded from the Web site.