[gshase]

Normally in a brain dead patient they cross match for donors and check for any illnesses they may have, This can take up to 6 hours. A harvest time is selected for all of the organs after Xray and cat scan and other all other testing is complete. The lungs are examined before harvest and again after harvest. This is the point where the transplant team decides if they are good enough for transplant. They don't have time to waist and that is why we have to be at the hospital 8 hours early. In my daughters case if the lungs are GOOD, They will start to remove her longs before the donor lungs ore at our hospital.
That is why we want to be 100% sure before she goes into the OR.