Nevada testing drones to deliver vital organs to transplant patients

LAS VEGAS – At 18 months old, Chris Rodriguez was diagnosed with heart failure and required a transplant. "My heart was pumping too much blood and my organs couldn't deal with it," said Rodriguez, now 14. "Most of my life, I've just been in and out of the hospital. More than 100,000 people are on the national transplant waiting list, and approximately 17 people die each day waiting to receive an organ transplant, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration. COVID-19 has complicated the situation even more, as travel restrictions and fewer commercial flights have made it difficult to transplant organs and highlighted the need for alternative travel methods to deliver vital organs. Nevada Donor Network partnered with MissionGo to test drones to deliver vital organs. "As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been subjected to fewer commercial flights to be able to transport organs for transplantation," Joe Ferreira, Nevada Donor Network CEO said. "We've had to look ...