SALT LAKE (ABC 4 News) - Emily Hoopes is keeping hope alive for her son in need of a life saving organ transplant through the use of Facebook.
Her son, Patrick, was born with a birth defect which caused his intestines to twist. The three-year-old is on a waiting list for a small intestine transplant.
"Without the transplant he is eternally linked to an IV and the complications that come with it," Hoopes said.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Tuesday users of the social media site can list if they are an organ donor and find links to organ donor websites. Zuckerberg said he was inspired by Steve Jobs, who received a liver transplant, and his girlfriend. She is an aspiring pediatrician who often talks about children in need of a transplant.
Hoopes said her Facebook page is updated. She is listed as an organ donor, but continues to wait for a child to help her son.
Patrick wasn't expected to live past age two. Hoopes hopes Facebook may increase his chances of finding one.
A spokesman for Intermountain Donor Services said there are 650 Utahns waiting for a life saving transplant. Facebook could help decrease that number with one billion users worldwide.
"There are just far too many people waiting for organs and not enough donors available," she added. "Any time we are talking about this it increase odd that one person won't be waiting."
