Boy who got new heart inspires tribe to boost organ donation

By FELICIA FONSECA Associated Press

Grayson Parisien’s time on the ground was short. But the boy with dark-rimmed glasses who’s charmed by the music in “Frozen,” the sound of his shredding paper and his father playing guitar has a major influence on his tribal community in the far reaches of North Dakota.

His journey to correct an irregular heart led the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians to add an organ donation box to their tribal IDs, which was unveiled during a ceremony in November.

The rate of organ donation among Native Americans is much lower than other ethnic groups. For some tribes, cultural beliefs are a factor. In rural communities, time, distance, and sporadic access to the Internet can hinder the process.

“Don’t think about donation and how many people don’t,” said Joanne Azure, Greyson’s grandmother. “I was thinking, ‘There should be more donors.’ When you’re going through this personally, you don’t want someone to die but you also want your child to live.”

Less than 1% of the 100,000 people awaiting transplants nationwide are Native Americans, who make up nearly 3% of the US population.

The numbers are even higher in some states, including New Mexico where 1 in 5 people on the wait list are Native American. In South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota, approximately 5% of patients awaiting organ donation are Native American.